Esther Donner

Esther Donner, of Wausau, WI, formerly of Montevideo, passed away Thursday, February 29, 2024 at Primrose Senior Living in Wausau at the age of 100.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, March 6, 2024 at 10:30 AM at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Montevideo.  Pastor Donald S. McKee will officiate and burial will be in Hazel Run Lutheran Cemetery.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the church on Wednesday.

Arrangements are with Anderson - TeBeest Funeral Home of Montevideo.  www.andersontebeest.com

Esther was born March 27th, 1923 to Olaus and Ida (Berg) Nyland in Friendship Township in Yellow Medicine County. She was baptized and confirmed at Spring Creek Lutheran Church in Normania Township Yellow Medicine County. Esther graduated from Clarkfield high school and Teachers Training in Montevideo. She taught rural school in Normania Township. In 1942, Esther was united in marriage to Raymond Chadwell. With this union, Danny, Robert and Judy were born. Following the death of Raymond in 1956, the family moved to Granite Falls, Minnesota. For 13 years, she was an accountant for the Family Service in Yellow Medicine County. In 1967, she married Lovell (Bud) Donner. Together they owned the Donner Trailer Sales in Montevideo. After Bud’s death in 1974, she worked as an accountant for 13 years at the Chippewa County Auditor’s office.

Esther was a member of Our Savior’s church and a member of Dorcas Circle in Montevideo for many years. Esther also was a charter member of the Flying Geese Quilters, a member of Degree of Honor, and Sons of Norway. She had a love for traveling, piano, reading and most of all, quilting.

Esther is survived by her children Robert (Elizabeth) Chadwell (Wausau, WI) and Judy Winkler (Bemidji, MN). She has 6 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, 10 great great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands Raymond Chadwell and Lovell (Bud) Donner, child Danny Chadwell, brothers: Oville Nyland and Olaf Nyland, sisters: Alice Anderson, Agnes Borgendale and Amy Larson, son-in-law Gary Winkler MD, grandson James Chadwell and granddaughter Dana Chadwell.