Donna Eleene Erdman

Donna Eleene Erdman, 98, of Wykoff, Minnesota, passed away on Thursday, January 22, 2026, at Spring Valley Living in Spring Valley, Minn. 

Donna Eleene Erdman was born February 9, 1927, the daughter of Chester and Sadie (Officer) Brye on a farm in Vernon County, Wis. She attended Springville Pioneer Country School, Viroqua High School and graduated from San Diego High School in February 1944. After the war ended, she and her mother moved back to Wisconsin and she went on to attend St. Olaf College. She worked as a bookkeeper for Wagner Construction in Austin for many years. She then worked for Alvin Benike in Rochester for 17 years.

She was united in marriage to Ray Elmer Erdman on March 15, 1959, at St. Johns Lutheran Church in Wykoff. She and Ray spent 43 years together, he passed away November 23, 2002. After Ray’s passing she ran her own window blinds business from home well into her 90s.

Donna was very active in her church and community. She was a charter member of the Rainbow Garden Club, an active member of the Anna Circle at St. Johns, and a member of the Wykoff Lions. She was also active in the opening of the Wykoff Co-op Grocery Store. In 2008 she began writing the Wykoff News for the Spring Valley Tribune.

She loved gardening and it was often her source of exercise. She loved her Dixon lawn mower and her Troy garden teller. She often spent quite a bit of time outside. She had a love for cats, feeding the birds, and tending to her flower garden.

Donna started a scholarship fund helping children to be able to attend St. Johns Lutheran School, something she took great pride in.

Donna is survived by her sesven stepchildren and their families and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death her husband Ray, her parents Chester and Sadie, and her six siblings.

The family would like to acknowledge Robin Breckenridge for her care of Donna over the last few years along with the staff of Spring Valley Living for their outstanding care. The family would also like to acknowledge the kindness of the Mayo Clinic hospice nurses and those in the body donation program. 

A celebration of life service will be held at 1 p.m. on Sunday, February 8, 2026, at St. Johns Lutheran Church in Wykoff with Pastor Timothy Sandeno officiating. There will be no visitation prior to the service, please come in and be seated. A luncheon and time of fellowship will follow in the church basement. A private family burial will take place at a later date. 

Hindt-Hudek Funeral Home in Wykoff is assisting the family.