Obituary of Diane McDonald

Diane Lee (Pearson) McDonald of Isanti, wife of Arthur N McDonald, died on Thursday, November 15, 2012 at the Cambridge Medical Center at the age of 71 after a short battle with breast and liver cancer. She was born on October 11, 1941 to Carl and Clarie Pearson in Minneapolis, MN. Diane grew up in Minneapolis with her three siblings, Elizabeth (Bunny), Sharon and James, where her father was a Minneapolis fireman. Diane is a 1959 graduate of Southwest High School in Minneapolis. The Pearson family was very involved over the years with the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis. Diane proudly worked for many years as a housekeeper and executive housekeeper for hotels such as the Ramada Inn and Radisson - many of these years she spent working along with her mother. Most recently, prior to retirement, Diane worked for the former Cambridge Health Care Center nursing home (now GracePoint Crossing - Gables East). Diane worked hard and took pride in everything she did - she was a true servant. In January 1963, Diane married Arthur McDonald. In their 50 years of marriage they raised four children, Tim, Sean, Liam and Chris. There were several interesting endeavors for the McDonald family over the years. These included living in Grenwhich Village, New York in the mid-sixties, Minneapolis in the later sixties, Richfield from 1971-1984, Crane Lake, MN, Moorhead, MN and Fargo, ND. For the past eleven years Diane and her husband Arthur have lived in the Cambridge/Isanti area spending nearly ten years on a small farm north of Braham, MN near their son Chris and his family. For the past year Diane and her husband Arthur resided in the city of Isanti. Over the 50 years of her marriage Diane was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. The first 25 years she thoroughly enjoyed modeling the role "hockey mom" - Diane could haul a car full of boys from one end of the state to the other and lace up a pair of skates. The family also spent much time in Crane Lake, MN, which ultimately included living there for a few years. Like her father, Diane loved this area deeply, especially many of her friendships with area residents, including Bill and Deena Congdon. In the later 25 years Diane and family lived in the Fargo-Moorhead area where she was Executive Housekeeper for the Radisson Hotel as well as Bethany Homes. Diane was also a past Woman's Auxiliary President for the Fargo VFW post 762 for five years. Diane also mastered her role as "Grandma Mac" and deeply loved her eight grandchildren. For the past 12 years Diane and Arthur enjoyed their retirement years in the Cambridge/Isanti area. She is survived by her three children Tim McDonald of Lakeville, MN, Sean McDonald of Houston, TX, Liam McDonald of Lakeville, MN and Chris (Kelli) McDonald of Isanti, MN; sisters Elizabeth (Bunny) Pearson of Grand Marais, MN and Sharon (Pearson) Johnson of Pillager, MN; eight grand-children Cameron McDonald, Jillian McDonald, Luke McDonald, Gannon McDonald, Kasey McDonald, Elena (Laney) McDonald, James McDonald, and Sydney McDonald; and devoted friend Diane Agresto. Diane was preceded in death by her parents Carl and Clarie Pearson, brother James Pearson and sister-in-law Judith McDonald, and brothers-in-law Myles McDonald and John (Guy) McDonald.