Dona Spilman, 69, of Leader, died March 21, 2009 at her home.

Funeral services were held March 23 at the Motley Free Methodist Church with Pastor Jim Johnson officiating. Burial was in the Poplar Cemetery.

Arrangements were with the Brenny Funeral Home in Staples.

Dona was born June 11, 1939, to Malcolm "Mac" and Hazel (DeWald) Smith, in Thomastown Township of Wadena County. The family lived for a short time in Minneapolis, before settling in the Leader - Poplar area. Dona attended Poplar Elementary School and graduated in 1957, from the Staples High School. She attended Staples Teachers Training and was certified in 1958.

Dona taught for one year near Henning. She then moved to St. Paul and worked at Minnesota Mutual Life Ins. Co. During that time she met Marvin Spilman and they married on May 2, 1963. They moved to Auburn, Wash., before returning to Minneapolis. In the summer of 1972, they moved to the Spilman family farm near Leader.

Dona was involved in the Leader Area Lions, Poplar Community Church and the start up of the Hazel Dell Leader Community Library.

Dona is survived by three daughters, Myrna (Wayne) Martin of Pillager; Marcy (James) Edwards of Sherwood, Ark.; Monica (Max) Burnett of Paris, Ark.; two sons, Michael (Laura) Spilman of Wadena; Milo Spilman of Leader; seven grandchildren; two greatgrandchildren; two sisters, Echo Schneider; and Della Hanson; three brothers, Dale, Robert; and Keith Smith.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; two brothers, Ray; and Norman; one sister, Irene; and one great-grandson.

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