Donald H. Reinarts • 1917 - 2011

DONALD H. REINARTS, 94, a former resident of Minot, N. Dakota, for more than 90 years, currently of Preston, Minn., died Saturday morning, May 14, 2011, at Heritage Grove in Harmony, Minn.
    
Donald Henry Reinarts was born February 22, 1917, in Minot, North Dakota, to Henry Joseph and Frances Marie (Pehan) Reinarts.  After graduating from Minot High School class of “34” he attended Minot State University and later graduated from University of North Dakota in Grand Forks with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business.
    
Donald married Margaret Elaine “Polly” Gorman on November 10, 1941, a marriage that lasted until his passing.  At the age of 25 he was drafted into the United States Army and was stationed at Ft. Leonard Wood in Missouri.  During this time, Donald and Margaret were blessed with their first two children, Patricia Ann and Thomas Michael.  Soon after, he shipped out and served nobly and meritoriously in the Pacific Theatre of WW II.  He was honorably discharged from the service in July 1945, after being awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.
    
After his time in the service, he returned home to his family and had another daughter, Susan Kay and another son, Michael John.  He spent most of the remainder of his life in Minot enjoying two successful careers.  Donald was an employee of the Minot Post Office for 37 ½ years, having been promoted to the position of Superintendent of Mails before retiring.  To coincide with his postal duties, he owned and operated a farm located southeast of Minot.  He and Margaret farmed every year until his retirement in 1975.  He spent the last few years of his life in Preston to be nearer his family.
    
Donald, a devout Catholic, was a member of St. Leo Catholic Church in Minot.  He was also a member of the American Legion Post #26, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #753, the Moose Lodge, the Magic Squares and the Hustler’s Round and Square Dance Clubs all of Minot.  He also held lifetime memberships with the Elks Lodge and Knights of Columbus.  His favorite activities included hunting, curling, training and riding horses with the Minot Trail Riders, square dancing and enjoying his grandchildren.
 
Those who enjoyed his life and survive include his wife, Margaret; his daughter, Patricia Gartner of Preston, his son, Thomas (Judy) Reinarts of Petersburg, Alaska, his daughter, Susan Stubinski (Bruce Wick) of Houston, Texas, and his son, Michael (Theresa) Reinarts of Eagan, Minn.; 10 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; his brother, Bob Reinarts of Minot; brother-in-law, Milton Aisenbrey of Newburg, N. Dakota; and several nieces and nephews. 

He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Dorothy Lanners; his brother, Jim; and his son-in-law, Mike Gartner.
     
Funeral Mass: May 27, 2011, at 11:00 am at St. Columban Catholic Church in Preston, MN.

Graveside Service: May 31, 2011, at 10:00 am at Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot.

Visitation: Friends may call at the church in Preston from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service on Friday, May 27.

The family prefers memorials to the Bishop Ryan High School in Minot or Mayo Hospice.

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