Donald Tufte

Beloved husband, father, and grandfather Donald Elroy Tufte passed away surrounded by loved ones on Wednesday, August 10, 2022. A memorial service will be held Saturday, September 3, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at the Bilden-Askew Funeral Home in Northwood. A visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at the funeral home. 

He is survived by three children, Darryl Tufte (Lori), Julie Brorby (Michael), and Rhonda Martin; eleven grandchildren; and eighteen great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his wife of sixty-eight years, Kathryn; his son, Alan; his brothers, Jerome (Della) and Earl (Ella Mae); and his sisters, Jean Nelson (Fred), Gwendolyn Tufte, and Dorothy Olson (Byron).

Donald was born in Northwood, North Dakota, to Theodore and Constance Tufte on August 25, 1934. He attended school in Northwood and furthered his education at NDSU. He married Kathryn in 1953, and they soon settled into an active life in Northwood. Donald farmed for many years as well as owning and operating a trucking business. Often involved in community youth activities, Kathy and Donald together owned and operated the House of Wheels roller-skating rink in Northwood. They were also members at the Northwood Evangelical Lutheran Church, where Donald volunteered as a teacher and youth leader. Donald spent winters in Mesa, Arizona, with his wife, where he was often visited by family and friends. After a busy week of farming and trucking, he could be found on Sundays with his family out on Golden Lake boating and water skiing. He also enjoyed golfing, playing bridge, and flying his airplane.

Donald will be kindly remembered by his friends and neighbors. He had a curious mind and enjoyed discussing the news and the Bible, and he was a gifted storyteller. An active person well into his eighties, Donald could always be counted on by his grandchildren to shoot a game of golf or HORSE, to not hold back on the ping-pong table, and to pick a tune on the guitar with skill. He will be greatly missed.