Donald Rilley

Funeral services for Donald Rilley of Chokio, will be on Thursday, August 5, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Chokio.  Reverend Erik Rundquist will be officiating.  Visitation will be on Wednesday, from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. at the Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris, and will continue one hour prior to the services at the church on Thursday. Burial will be at Chokio Lutheran Cemetery, rural Chokio.

Donald Stanley Rilley was born on April 24, 1931, in Graceville, Minnesota to Stanley and Hilma (Dorff) Rilley.  Don was raised on his family farm in Baker Township, Stevens County, Minnesota.  Don was baptized and confirmed in his Lutheran faith at Zion Lutheran Church in Chokio.  He attended country school and then continued his education at Chokio High School, graduating with the class of 1949. Following high school, Don continued farming with his parents.  In 1952, he was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart, Donna Twait, at Zion Lutheran Church.  They made their home on the family homestead where they farmed and welcomed their son, David, on October 16, 1953.  Don raised hogs, grain and milked dairy cows, he retired from farming in the early 90’s and moved to Chokio.  Donna preceded Don in death in November of 1992.  He continued to live in Chokio and worked in realty, selling houses around the Stevens County area.  In 1993, Don was united in marriage to Lois Mauch, she died a few short years later.  Through church, Don reconnected with Barb Alm Stahn, they were married on October 26, 1997, and made their home in Chokio.

Don was a member of Zion Lutheran Church until the consolidation with St. Paul’s, and it then became Our Savior’s Lutheran Church.  He was an active member, having served on many committees, taught Sunday school, was a past president and sang in the Our Savior’s Adult Choir. He was a great singer, having shared his talents in the men’s quartet. He was a member of the American Dairy Association Region Board for 30 years, and the Chokio Equity Board. In his younger years, Don played basketball on the Chokio town team.  He enjoyed fishing, bowling, square dancing, hunting out west and traveling.  Don loved to drive, he stated that a windshield was like a movie screen.  He enjoyed going on day trips, it didn’t matter where to, he just simply enjoyed driving.  Don also spent some of his time volunteer driving people in need to various appointments.  Don and Barb enjoyed wintering at Country Sunshine Park in Weslaco, Texas and spending their summers at Hobo Park in Starbuck; they enjoyed over 23 years in those locations where they enjoyed meeting and spending time with new and very special friends.

Donald passed away surrounded by his family, on Saturday, July 31, 2021 at West Wind Village in Morris, Minnesota.  He was 90 years old.

He is survived by his wife, Barb of Chokio; son, David Rilley of Chaska; stepdaughters: Rhonda (Kevin) Asmus of Chokio, Sandy (Nick) Kill of Morris, Terri (John) Hawkinson of Chokio, and Peggy (Jerry) Johnson of Alberta; 15 step-grandchildren; 29 step-great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law: Judy (Joe) Johnson of Laguna Woods, California, Mary Ellen (Bob) Amundson of Chokio, Connie Reimers of Lake Crystal; brothers-in-law: Joe Wilkins of Rockwall, Texas, John (Kay) Alm of New Albany, Ohio, and Rick Andrew of Webster City, IA.  He is preceded in death by his parents; wives: Donna Twait Rilley and Lois Mauch Rilley; grandson, Jeffrey Rilley; sisters: Dorothy (Stanley “Buster”) Zimmerman, and Doris Wilkins; nephew, Charles Zimmerman; and in-laws, including, Marlys Alm.

Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris is in care of arrangements for Don.