Donna Marie Hauser, age 77 of Hammond died Tuesday, October 5th, 2010 at United Hospital in St. Paul following complications of a heart attack. Donna was born on March 28, 1933 in Duluth, Minnesota; the daughter of Anton and Doria (Dufault) Elbinger. She was raised in Crookston where she attended a country grade school. She would meet an aspiring young man, Donald Paul Hauser. The two would be united in marriage on June 28, 1954 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Crookston. This union would be further blessed with five children; Wayne, MaryAnn, Alan, Richard, and Sharon. The Hauser’s made Pleasant Valley their home in 1966 when they bought their hobby farm. Over the years, she worked various jobs. Earlier in life, she made weather balloons during the Korean War era and painted houses and barns. Many will remember her years as a cook for the Hammond High School. However, she was the backbone of life on the Hauser Farm. She wasn’t afraid to grab a wrench and help Don work on an engine during the day and balance the books at night. She also tended to the cows and chickens and kept her gardens plenty bountiful. Her greatest love that put a smile on her face was her family. She adored all of them. She got the greatest thrill from watching her grandchildren and great grandchildren at her home or at school/church functions. She loved baking and cooking as her staples of potato salad, chocolate chip cookies, and banana bread were welcomed by many. She and Don traveled to every state except Hawaii. They loved polka dancing at the Hammond Hotel or at an American Legion. She was a gifted seamstress who made all of her grandchildren quilts and knitted booties and was ready to sew a patch over a worn pair of jeans. Don loved to fish, but Donna was usually their by his side pulling in her share of catches. She enjoyed her volunteering as well. She was a 4H leader for the Valley Victors, served as treasurer for the Hammond Senior Center, and helped with ballots at the Pleasant Valley Town Hall on voting day.

Donna will remain in the hearts of her children: Wayne (Pam) Hauser of Hudson and children Jessica, Lindsay (Jeremy) Pickerign, Tanya (fiancé Nick); Alan Hauser (Tara Clark) of River Falls and daughter Tiffany (Mike) Little; Sharon (Bruce) Achterhof and children Jenna and Vanessa; son-in-law David (Cheryl) Smith and children Tara (Trevor) Davis, Logan, McKenna; great grandchildren Andrew,Brayton, Hunter, Hayden, Teagan, Tate, Derrick; former daughter-in-law Vicki Zimmerman, brothers/sisters Fran (Vic) Spears, Anna Mae Treichel, Richard (Myrt) Elbinger, Henry (Cookie) Elbinger, brothers/sisters-in-law Elaine Elbinger, Shirley Carrier, Alice Hauser, Betty Kubzewski, and Lorgean Hauser as well as a host of other family and relatives. She joins her parents Anton and Doria (Dufault) Elbinger, husband Don, children Mary Ann Smith, Richard Hauser, grandson Ryan Smith, son-in-law Jeff Hadley, and brothers Tony and Lawrence in death.

Mass of Christian Burial for Donna Hauser will be 11AM Monday October 11th at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Hammond with Fr. Jerry Harris officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be on Sunday from 4 until 8PM at the O’Connell Family Funeral Home in Baldwin and one hour prior to the mass at church on Monday morning.