Donna Mae (Mathisen) Dosland, age 93, passed away peacefully Saturday, October 17, 2026, at her home in Canby, MN. A visitation will be held Sunday, November 1, 2026 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. with a prayer service to follow at the Houseman Funeral Home, Birk Chapel in Canby, MN. Donna will be laid to rest beside her beloved husband, Bill, at Riverside Cemetery in Fargo, ND. Houseman Funeral Home, Birk Chapel in Canby is entrusted with the arrangements. In lieu of flowers or gifts of money, the family requests that memorials in Donna’s honor be directed to Sanford Hospice at Canby.
Donna was born in Duluth, MN, on November 14, 1932, to Sverre and Nellie (Fenstad) Mathisen. She was the youngest of their five children. When Donna was three years old, her mother died in a house fire. Her father later married Josephine Anderson, and they had one son, John (Tim) Mathisen. Donna attended Lutsen Elementary School and graduated from Grand Marais High School in 1950. In 1953, she graduated from the Swedish Hospital School of Nursing as a registered nurse (RN) and spent the next three years working as a surgical nurse at Swedish Hospital. Also in 1953, she met her future husband, William (Bill) Dosland. They were married on September 15, 1956, and made their home in Moorhead, Minnesota. Donna worked for the City of Fargo Public Health Department for seven years. She helped establish the Clay County Public Health Nursing Program in 1969 and served as chair of its advisory board for nine years. Donna and Bill had two children, David and Susan. While raising her family, Donna remained active in volunteer and community service. She served as chair and fundraiser for the Moorhead March of Dimes. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and served as Worthy Matron while Bill served as Worthy Patron of the Moorhead Chapter. Donna was active in the Republican Party, managing the Clay and Becker County phone banks during three election cycles. She was an active member of PEO, serving as Recording Secretary and Chapter President. In addition, she taught confirmation classes at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepard in Moorhead. Donna and Bill were strong supporters of education and the Moorhead community. They were original members of the Concordia College C-400 Club and the MSUM Alumni Foundation Founding 50. Donna’s faith was an important part of her life, and she passed that on to the next generation by teaching her grandchildren the Lord’s Prayer, a special gift they could carry with them throughout their lives. Donna was very proud of her Norwegian heritage. She kept in touch with relatives in Norway, visiting them several times and hosting them on a visit to America. She made Norwegian cookies to celebrate Christmas and sent her children and grandchildren to Skogfjorden Norwegian Language Camp. Donna enjoyed sewing, knitting, cross-stitching, tatting, and Hardanger embroidery. She was an avid golfer and enjoyed playing bridge. At her lake home on Bad Medicine Lake, she loved cross-country skiing, feeding and watching the birds, and spending time outdoors. Donna planted many trees at the lake and lovingly tended them each year, protecting them from browsing deer with chicken-wire cages. She also spent many happy hours putting together jigsaw puzzles, a hobby she continued until her death with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Following Bill’s passing in 1993, she became friends with Duane (Red) Lindgren. They enjoyed many happy years fishing and golfing at Bad Medicine Lake in Arizona. Donna spent her final seven years at The Little House in Canby, MN. Throughout her time there, she received exceptional care and was welcomed like family by the entire Henningsgaard family and her many devoted caregivers.
She is survived by her brother John (Tim) Mathisen (Joan); children David (Shari) Dosland and Susan (Randy) Kamrath; grandchildren Paige (Joseph) Bohne, McKenzie (Elliot) Lorenzen, Benjamin (Dallas) Kamrath, William (Dannika) Kamrath, Katherine (Kyle) Swarthout, and Matthew Dosland; and her great grandchildren Aydra Donna Bohne, Livy Lorenzen, Remy Mae Lorenzen, Lux Lorenzen, Reagan Kamrath, Rory Kamrath, Oliver Kamrath, Charlie Kamrath, and Hallie Mae Swarthout. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, William (Bill) Dosland; special friend, Duane (Red) Lindgren; father Sverre Mathisen; mother Nellie (Fenstad) Mathisen; step-mother, Josephine (Anderson) Mathisen; and her siblings, Helen (George) Jacobs, Edward Mathisen, Benjamin (Eleanor) Mathisen, and Sherman Mathisen.
