LaDonna, the daughter of Henry and Clara (Beyer) Dahmes, was born on November 20, 1930, in Three Lakes Township, Redwood County, near Clements, Minnesota. She was raised on the family farm there, along with her three sisters, and attended grade school in Clements, graduating from Wabasso High School.
After graduation, LaDonna attended Mankato Commercial College. Later she became employed at the Nicollet County Agent’s Office in St. Peter. Eventually her working career led her to the Archer-Daniels Midland Company, and finally to the Department of Transportation in Mankato.
LaDonna married Farrel Yungerberg in 1951, and three children were born to their union. The family resided in the Mankato area for a number of years.
On September 14, 1973, LaDonna was united in marriage to Richard Fox of Sleepy Eye, where she made her home until the present time. Many will remember LaDonna from her part-time demonstration and deli work at Erickson’s Grocery Store in Sleepy Eye, as well as her meticulous ability in crafting drapes for various friends and acquaintances. She always enjoyed meeting and working with people, becoming active in the Trinity Lutheran Church not far from her home, where she was frequently counted on to give her support and assistance, especially during times of bereavement. She also met weekly with a quilting group there, with the purpose of assisting in various missions projects.
LaDonna’s warmth and light-hearted personality endeared her to many and she will genuinely be missed by everyone.
Preceding her in death were her parents; her first husband, Farrel; her second husband, Dick: her stepdaughter, Debra (Fox) Krzmarzick; and her three sisters and two brothers-in-law, Lorraine (Dahmes) and Ronald Sawvell; Marvel Dahmes; and Noreen (Dahmes) and Jerry Allenspach.
Surviving her are her children: Steven (Linda) Yungerberg, Canton, GA; Lynn Kitzrow, Savage, MN; and Randy (Jill) Yungerberg, St. Paul, MN. Also surviving are the Fox children, who provided much love and support throughout her life in Sleepy Eye: Wayne (Wendy) Fox, New Ulm; Clete Krzmarzick, Gibbon; Steve (Sally) Fox, Lexington, S.C.; and Rosemarie (Myron) Mielke, Lancaster, CA. Altogether she is survived by 16 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.