Donna Williams

Donna Marie Williams (Johnson,) beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on July 19th, 2024, after being diagnosed with metastatic colon cancer two days earlier. Although Donna was not feeling one hundred percent the past few months, she continued to live life fully, cruising to the Pacific side of Mexico with husband Dean and friends from Bald Eagle, and visiting their grandchildren and family in Texas. She attended Wednesday night socials and was out on Bald Eagle Lake racing the Hobie 16 she sailed with Dean, three weeks before entering the hospital. She enjoyed 4th of July festivities with her family and lake community on Bald Eagle, and her last lake outing was to enjoy the annual “Music on the Water” concert from their boat, rafted up with friends on the Lake. 

Donna had a beautiful open smile and eyes that twinkled with her mischievous sense of humor. She was a bit of an introvert until she got to know you, but once connected, she would be a lifelong friend, performing kindnesses large and small, letting you know you were loved and valued. She was also famous for dropping gifts from her kitchen or from when she had eaten out, as she could not waste a single bite of anything. 

Donna was born on April 16, 1955, in St. Paul Minnesota, to Donald Woodrow and Mabel Lorraine (Dahlberg) Johnson. She grew up on the east side of St. Paul, attended Johnson High School and graduated in 1973. She was raised with her two older brothers, Gary, and Bruce, remaining close to each of them, their wives, and families throughout her life. Donna dearly loved her father, who passed away in 1973. When her mother later remarried, she developed a special and loving relationship with her stepfather, Larry Blomker, who deeply loved her in return. 

She received her Associate Degree in Nursing in 1975, and started as a nurse at St. John’s Hospital, returning to college to complete her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1985, graduating in 1987. That same year she began a thirty-year career at Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis. She was an excellent nurse and worked in Pre-op, PACU, Post-op, Short Stay, Peds ICU, and the Emergency Department. Donna loved nursing and caring for her small patients. She remained close to her Children’s Hospital nursing friends sharing trips to the Casino, Las Vegas and enjoying their annual pontoon day on Bald Eagle Lake with “Captain Dean.” 

Donna and Dean met when he observed a pretty blonde down the shore of Bald Eagle Lake from his cabin. She was looking for a friend to take her sailing, and as the friend was in Florida, Dean gallantly offered to do so. He could not resist the girl with her own 15-foot Bayliner runabout and trailer, who could back and launch a boat by herself. After he proposed to her on a Hot Air Balloon ride over the St. Croix River Valley, they were married aboard the paddleboat “Princess,” on the St. Croix River just below Taylor’s Falls, on September 20, 1986, beginning a thirty-eight-year life together. They tore down the cabin on the lake and built their lake home, raising their two children, Kristy, and Ben, at the Lake. For many years the family traveled out west to Tahoe and the Rocky Mountains snow skiing, and enjoyed sailing, hockey, fishing, and exploring the country on vacations. During these years Donna was a hockey mom and second mom to many of the players and friends that Kristy and Ben brought to the house. After the kids were gone, she and Dean enjoyed many trips to Lake Vermillion, Lake of the Woods, Texas, and Lake Mille Lacs. Donna loved living on the lake entertaining family and friends frequently. In June she hosted her brother and his family from Texas, sharing Bald Eagle Lake with them. During her brief time in the hospital, she talked about how much the time with her brother and his family meant to her and how grateful she was for their visit.

As her parents and in-laws aged, Donna put her considerable nursing skills to work, often assisting with caring for them. During Covid she became the primary caregiver to her mother-in-law Addie, eventually moving her into their home. When her brother-in-law Chuck was diagnosed with cancer, she assisted his family as well, offering nursing assistance and emotional support to her sister-in-law and their family.

Donna had a deep compassion for others, especially children who were hurting. This led to several mission trips as a surgical recovery nurse with Smile Network International to South and Central America, and Mexico, and to Jamaica with St. Andrew’s Church, supporting mission work there. She loved animals, had a special affinity for llamas, and was a docent for Como Zoo in her early years, bringing animals home to be bottle fed and nurtured until they could safely return to the zoo. She loved dogs and her King Charles Cavalier “Sophie,” was never far from her side, including visiting her during her short hospitalization. 

Donna and Dean have been members of St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in Mahtomedi for thirty-five years, volunteering in the nursery when their children were growing up. She was a member of the Bald Eagle Children’s Hospital Association, Bald Eagle Women’s Club, and Bald Eagle Yacht Club, often volunteering for their events. She was one of the “Bells,” or Bald Eagle Ladies of the Lake, fostering relationships and building community with the women of the lake she loved and cherished. 

For the past several years Donna traveled with Dean to visit the grandchildren in Texas. She was immensely proud of their accomplishments and milestones, and cherished her time with Addy, Alex, and Gus. She looked forward to their visits and the nightly video-calls with the grandkids. She also loved the trips to “Buc-ee’s,” the famous Texas Gas Station extraordinaire. 

Donna is survived by her husband, Dean Williams of White Bear Lake MN, daughter Kristy Jeffers (Caleb,) Granddaughter Addy Jeffers, Grandsons Alex and Gus Jeffers all of San Antionio TX, son Ben Williams (Maryjane) of White Bear Lake, MN, brother Bruce Johnson (Esther) of Euliss TX, Sisters-in-law Terri Williams of White Bear Lake, MN, Linda Johnson of Green Valley, Arizona, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by parents Donald and Lorraine Johnson, stepfather Larry Blomker, and brother Gary Johnson (Linda.)

Services will be held on Monday September 23rd at St. Andrews Lutheran Church, 900 Stillwater Road, Mahtomedi, MN, 55115. Visitation at 10:00, Celebration of Life at 11:00 and lunch reception to follow at the church. Arrangements by Mueller Lake Mortuary, White Bear Lake, MN. Memorials may be directed to Smile Network International.