Irene Alice Lillegard, 74, Minot and formerly of Donnybrook died on Saturday, October 16, 2010, in a Fargo medical center.

Irene was born on February 29, 1936 in Minot to Oscar and Emma (Monson) Gustafson. She was reared in Aurelia, ND and attended school in Donnybrook. She graduated from Donnybrook High School in 1954 and attended the Minot Business College in Minot where she received specialized training in office administration. As a young adult she was employed as a cashier at Minot banks. Irene married Robert H. Lillegard on May 3, 1958 in Kenmare. They made their home in Minot where she was employed as a bank cashier prior to beginning employment at Minot State University in the administration office. She continued there until she retired during the early 1990s. Bob died on November 20, 2007.

Irene was a former member of First Lutheran Church, Minot, and served as a volunteer for the local chapter of the American Red Cross. She especially enjoyed traveling, snowmobiling, tinkering with her computer, breakfast with her friends at Schatz's Restaurant, and she was an avid racing fan, especially at the NoDak Raceway, where her husband was named to the Hall of Fame.

Irene's loving family includes her daughter: Denise (Dave) Aberle of Fargo; grandchildren, Dana and Daniel Aberle; brothers, Charles (Ann) Gustafson of Fond du Lac, WI and Ralph (Gloria) Gustafson, Kenmare; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral Service: Thursday, October 21, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. in First Lutheran Church, Minot.
Interment: Will be in the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, rural Mandan.
Visitation: Wednesday from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Memorials are preferred to the Nodak Speedway.

Irene was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son: Ken and brother: Glenn.