Donald Schneider, 83

Donald Raymond Schneider, the son of Bart and Agnes (Streich) Schneider, was born March 11, 1929, near Beardsley. He attended country school and then went to Beardsley public school.

He lived and worked on his parents' farm until he married Darlene Carol Van Mill from Rosholt, South Dakota, on July 23, 1952. They had six children, Deborah (Kalkman) of Kansas, Melody (Haabala) of Brandon, Sandra (Stevans) of Pennsylvania, Douglas (deceased) of Alexandria, Ginger (Martinson) of Big Lake, and Jody (Gwinn) of Alexandria.

In the spring of 1953, they moved to Bigelow, where he worked for a farmer for one harvest season. They moved to Ortonville, where he worked for a Standard station. From there he went to a dairy where he ran a route selling milk, butter, eggs and ice cream to stores in Ortonville and Big Stone City. He was then hired at Cash-Town, where he worked for Reuben Miller Firestone. He sold tires and recapped tires there for five years.

In 1962, they moved to Alexandria and he worked for Stenzel Tire recapping tires, running molds and selling tires. In 1969, he was hired by Alexandria School District 206 as a janitor for Washington Elementary School. He transferred to Jefferson High School in 1971 as head custodian, boiler and maintenance operator.

He attended Alexandria Vocational-Technical School to receive his chief boiler license and certificates of achievement in stationary steam engineering-pneumatic temperature control, refrigeration, air conditioning and boiler operation. He also became a licensed school bus driver for the district. He was a member of International Union of Operating Engineers.

He retired from full time work for District 206 in September of 1991. He returned to the district as a part-time custodian and grounds worker for several years.

Don was a man who gave his all to everyone he met. He will be dearly missed by his family and friends. He bravely fought cancer until his death on November 9, 2012.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Darlene; and son, Douglas.

He is survived by his five daughters, Deborah (Dave) Kalkman of Gardner, Kansas, Melody Duane Haabala of Brandon, Sandra (John) Stevans Sr. of McKeesport, Pennsylvania, Ginger (Kevin) Martinson of Big Lake, Jody (Dave) Gwinn of Alexandria; daughter-in-law, Dawn Schneider of Alexandria; 23 grandchildren; 35 great-grandchildren; brothers, Norbert (Bonnie) of Garfield, Roger (Liz) of Sanborn; sisters, Norma (LeRoy) Johnson of Texas, Joyce Lantis of Texas; several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, November 13 at United Methodist Church. Burial was at Evergreen Cemetery.

Arrangements are with Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria; www.andersonfuneral.net.

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