Donald Don Vernon Sullivan – Albert Lea Tribune

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Donald Don Vernon Sullivan

Published 12:48 pm Tuesday, April 11, 2023

Donald Don Vernon Sullivan, 85, passed away surrounded by his loving family on April 8, 2023 in Albert Lea, MN. Funeral Services were held on Wednesday, April 12, 2023 at St. Theodore’s Catholic Church in Albert Lea.

Donald Don Vernon Sullivan

Born July 11, 1937 in Lisbon, ND to Irene L. (Rice) and Vernon L. Sullivan. Don was raised on the family farm near Lisbon where he attended St. Aloysius Catholic Elementary School and graduated from Lisbon Public School. In his senior year, Don and his friends decide to attend a dance in nearby Elliot, where he meets his future wife, Shirley Darlene Hanson. After two dances and a request for a date, Don goes home and tells his Mother, I found the girl I’m going to marry. On October 4, 1958, Don and Darlene were married. They became the parents of 7 children, Sonda, Teresa, David, Thomas, Vicky, Debra, and Cynthia.

Dons who call life teach. He spent many years teaching 8th grade geography at Southwest Junior High in Albert Lea. He enjoyed teaching the Summer Science Program and sharing his love and knowledge for fossils and rocks. Any student who attended summer science may remember that he offered to buy a milk shake for any trilobite found. When Don is not in class, he can often be found spending time fishing, haggling over prices at garage sales, buying great deals at local auctions, maintaining the greenest lawn in the neighborhood, and spending time with his family Some of his fondest memories were made at family gatherings at Dead Lake and telling grandchildren about their family history; like the times he spent with his Grandma and Grandpa Rice and life growing up on the family farm. After retiring from education in 1996, Don and Darlene spent their winters in Texas, where he learned the art of Lapidary; working with precious stones and minerals to create beautiful pieces of art and jewelry.

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Welcoming Don to Heavens gate were his parents, Vernon and Irene (Rice) Sullivan; sisters, Pearl Dziuk and Sharon Wall: brother-in-law Lee Wall; sister-in-law, Coleen Sullivan; granddaughter, Josie Anderson.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Darlene Sullivan; seven children, Sonda (Terry) Swart, Teresa (Jerry) Anderson, David (Crystal) Sullivan, Vicky (Eric) Knudson, Debra (John) West-phal, Cynthia (Chris Rorwick) Emerson and Thomas (Amy) Sullivan; brother, Jerry Sullivan; 3 sisters, Kaye (Alden) Kempel, Jody (Jim) Hauge, and Pat (Steve) Cole; brother-in-law, Larry Dziuk; 17 grandchildren, Mark (Ashley) Swart, Angela Swart, and special friends Chad Robins, Jenna (Tom) Monsen, Joshua, and Benjamin Anderson, Claire and Aiden Sullivan, Brianna and Liam Sullivan, Connor and Lauren Knudson, Ethan and Jacqualyn Westphal, Jack and Grant Emerson, and Cole Ror-wick; and 6 great-grandchildren, Cameron and Elliot Swart, Kenlee Swart, and Orrin, Josephine and Michael Monsen.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to St. Theodores Elementary School

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