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James Michael McDonald
• 1935 - 2002 James Michael McDonald, 67, 1920 Skyline Drive, Minot, North Dakota, died Wednesday, October 16, 2002, at his home. James Michael McDonald was born on August 17, 1935, in Minot, North Dakota, the son of Edward "Lester" and Ruth (Haas) McDonald. He was raised in Deering, North Dakota and graduated from Deering High School in 1953. He attended Minot State College and later, NDSU, graduating in 1958 with a degree in Engineering. From 1958 - 1960, he attended the U.S. Air Force Officer Training School in Harlingen, Texas. On September 29, 1960, he married LaRae Gendreau in Walhalla, North Dakota. They were stationed at Mather AFB, Sacramento, California, and then Ellsworth AFB in Rapid City, South Dakota. He served as Captain in the USAF and as a B-52 navigator until his honorable discharge in 1965. They then returned to Minot where he worked at Pietsch Flying Service as a pilot and flight instructor and performed aerobatics for a number of years with the Alfred Pietsch family. He owned an aerial crop spraying business with the late Alfred Pietsch and later with Raymond Miller of Deering, North Dakota. He then joined the staff of Sund Manufacturing in Newburg as company pilot and engineer. He later became part owner and Engineer for MAC, Inc., Glenburn, North Dakota, until 2001. Jim had a passion for reading and loved flying, bicycling, jogging, taking drives through the countryside and bird watching. He thoroughly enjoyed the company of his grandchildren and friends. He was a member of the Air National Guard, Happy Hooligans, Experimental Aircraft Association, the Knights of Columbus, the Dakota Territory Air Museum and Little Flower Church. He participated in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults at Little Flower as a host and sponsor for the past three years. Survivors: Wife LaRae, Minot; mother, Ruth McDonald, Minot; son, Douglas and wife, Kolette, Deering, ND; daughters, Kathryn "Renae" McDonald, Minot, Michelle Saari and husband, Curt, Minot; Denise Landsiedel and husband, Jay, Minot; grandchildren, Dana, Heather and Christian "Drew" Saari; John Henry and Sydney Landsiedel; Mikayla McDonald; brothers, Tom McDonald and wife, Pat, Minot, ND; Dan McDonald, Velva; sisters, Mary Jo Merck and husband, William, Minot; Carolyn Johnson, Sherwood, ND, Teresa Cowan and husband, William, Casper, Wyoming; and several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his father, Edward "Lester" McDonald and nephew, Kevin Johnson. Mass of Christian Burial: Little Flower Catholic Church,
Minot, ND, Saturday, October 19, 2002, at 11 a.m. CELEBRANT: Father Paul Cervinski MUSIC: Here I am Lord, Jesu, Joy of Our Desiring, You
Are Mine, How Great Though Art PALLBEARERS: Raymond Miller,Vance Hembree, Warren Pietsch, Gaylen Marsh,Bill McDonald Paul Christianson, Lloyd Sund |