Donovan Rodger Hegre, 76, Minot and formerly of Northwood died on Monday, September 19, 2011 in a Bismarck hospital.

Donovan was born on July 31, 1935 in Northwood, ND to Allard and Nora (Ostlie) Hegre. He was reared and educated there and graduated from Northwood High School in 1953. Donovan enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1954 and served until his honorable discharge in 1958. Following his discharge he returned to North Dakota and attended Wahpeton State School of Science where he received specialized training in refrigeration and air conditioning.

Donovan married Marilyn Meier on December 28, 1960 at Aadalan Lutheran Church in Fairdale. They made their home in Northwood, Wahpeton, Bismarck and Jamestown before moving to Minot in 1963 where Donovan was employed in the Civil Engineering Squadron at Minot Air Force Base until his retirement in 1990.

Donovan was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He was a longtime member of Christ Lutheran Church where he had served on the church council, assisted in the Confirmation Center and helped with general maintenance projects around the church. Donovan loved to fish and his backyard was a special project where he groomed each flower bed and vegetable garden to perfection. He was a backyard birdwatcher and kept records of sightings at different times of the year. Don was a walking almanac. He loved geography and astronomy and was always sharing bits of trivia. MeLea, Kyle, McAyla and Tanner were the light of his life and each had their special name for him: "Daddy", "Dad" or "PaPa".

Donovan's loving family includes his wife of 50 years Marilyn; children: MeLea Grabinger of Bismarck and Kyle Hegre of Bismarck; grandchildren: McAyla and Tanner Hegre both of Bismarck; brother: James (Francia) Hegre of Moorhead; brother-in-law: Marvin (Del Rae) Meier of Grand Forks; sisters-in-law: Dolores Boe of Adams and Gladys (Irvin) Hammer of Fairdale; aunt: Viola Martinson of Grand Forks and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Donovan was preceded in death by his parents, son-in-law, John Grabinger and brother-in-law Keith Boe.

Funeral Service : Saturday, September 24, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. in Bethany Lutheran Church Minot.

Prayer Service: Friday at 7:00 p.m. in the Thomas Family Funeral Home Minot.

Interment will be in Rosehill Memorial Park Minot.

Visitation : Friday from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral home Minot.

Memorials are preferred to Christ Lutheran Church, American heart Association or to the donor's choice.