Dontee Eileen Adams

Dontee Eileen Adams, 85, peacefully passed away on June 10, 2024 after a long battle with dementia.

Public visitation will be held from 3:00-5:00 PM, Sunday, June 16, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Pkwy, Bismarck.  

Funeral services will be held at 11:30 AM, Monday, June 17, at Parkway Funeral Service, with internment to follow at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery.

Dontee was born to Peter and Alice Blegen on April 28, 1939 in Leeds, ND.  

She graduated from Leeds High School in 1957 and then attended Lake Region State College, Devils Lake, ND pursuing a Secretarial certificate.  While attending college Dontee met the man of her dreams and love of her life, Dennis Adams from Starkweather, ND.  They met in February of 1958 and were married July 19, 1958.

Dontee held several bookkeeping jobs while in Devils Lake prior to the family relocating to Bismarck, ND in 1974.  She worked several years at Rough Rider Industries as a bookkeeper before she opened Dontee’s Figure Skating Gallery where she and Dennis enjoyed traveling the US and being vendors for figure skating competitions and events.

She loved the color purple; she enjoyed playing bingo and Skip-Bo; she also loved watching her grandkids play hockey, and the Minnesota Twins. She attended the Hostfest in Minot, ND annually and was a dedicated fan of Charlie Pride and Daniel O’Donnell.   She will be known for always being fashionably dressed and having the prettiest fingernails!

Dontee is survived by her loving husband, Dennis of Bismarck, ND; children, Dale (Tammy) Adams of Alexandria, MN; Denise Vetter of Dilworth, MN; and Dana (Jerome) LaVallie of Bismarck, ND; grandsons, Steve (Jamie) Vetter of Bismarck, ND;  Isaac Adams of Alexandria, MN; Spencer LaVallie of Fargo, ND; Logan LaVallie of Bismarck, ND; and Levi LaVallie of Bismarck, ND; granddaughters, Sarah (Brennan) Hacker of Alexandria, MN; and Olivia LaVallie of Bismarck, ND; great-grandsons, Ryer and Jaxson Vetter; and Wyatt Hacker; sister, Cami Yaremcio of Alberta, Canada; in addition to many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Dontee is preceded in death by her parents, Peter and Alice Blegen; brother, Hubert and sister-in-law, Joan Blegen; brother, Philip Blegen; numerous special aunts and uncles; and great-granddaughter, Hennessy Hacker.  

The family wishes to thank the wonderful administrative staff, nurses, CNA’s, physical therapists, dieticians, and cafeteria aides at the Bismarck Baptist Health and Rehab for their wonderful compassionate care.

Those wishing to honor Dontee with a memorial are encouraged to make a donation to the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery Foundation, 1825 46th St, Mandan, ND.