Donna Jean LaFave

Donna Jean LaFave, 72, Bismarck, died on February 18, 2016, at Sunset Continuing Care Center surrounded by her family. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, February 23, at 1:00 PM at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Bismarck with Rev. Craig Schweitzer officiating. Burial will be at Fairview Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Monday from 5:00 – 7:00 PM at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, and will continue on Tuesday one hour prior to the service at the church. Donna was born on June 14, 1943, at Bismarck Hospital. She is the daughter of Donald G. and Bernice M. (Wenaas) Asbridge. She graduated from Bismarck High in 1961 and attended Bismarck Junior College for one year. Donna worked at the Burleigh County Sheriff’s Department for ten years as a switchboard operator and Civil Deputy. She was a stay-at-home mom for several years and then returned to work as a library assistant at Century High School. That led to her dream job as a school secretary at Prairie Rose Elementary. Her 20 years there, where she “took care of everybody and everything”, were some of her most special and rewarding. Donna’s priority in life was always family. From caring for her disabled father and younger brother in her teens to campaigning for her mother’s many elections, she could always be counted on. Family gatherings with her many aunts, uncles and cousins were amongst her fondest childhood memories. In 1962 she married her high school sweetheart, Joe LaFave. Their 54 years of marriage was filled with love, friendship, family, world travel, evenings out with friends and summer fun including a cabin at Lake Tschida and camping with lifelong friends. Donna was a member of the same wonderful bridge club for 40 years…although she always claimed that she really didn’t know that much about the game. Donna enjoyed attending car shows with Joe and spent many hours in the barn with him and son, George, refurbishing their collection of antique cars. She looked forward to her annual summer trip with her granddaughter, Skyler, to New Jersey (The Shore) for “Girls’ Week” with her daughter, Dawnice, and friends. Donna is survived by her husband, Joseph O. LaFave; daughter, Dawnice J. LaFave, Sparta, NJ; son, George W. LaFave and partner Melanie, Bismarck; granddaughters, Skyler, Aubrey and Tylee LaFave; Melanie’s daughter, Alia; as well as many brothers/sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins that she held close to her heart. She was preceded in death by her parents, Donald and Bernice Asbridge and brother, Darold. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Bismarck Cancer Care Center.