Donald Leroy Monger, the son of Morris and Agnes (Crandall) Monger was born on September 24, 1922 in Rugby, North Dakota.  He died at the age 90 years on Monday, June 10, 2013 at the Heart of America Care Center in Rugby.

Donald was raised in the Rugby home of his parents and received his education there.  Don completed his high school education, receiving his diploma from Rugby High School in 2001.  On October 22, 1940, he left high school and  enlisted in the National Guard  and served with Co .D of the 164^th Infantry in the South Pacific Theater during World War II, experiencing combat actions in the Guadalcanal and Northern Solomon’s Campaigns.  He is the recipient of the Purple Heart for wounds inflicted during those battles.  On June 12, 1945, he was honorably discharged from the Army and attended Wahpeton School of Science before returning to Rugby to make his home.  On December 1, 1948, Donald was united in marriage to Patricia Fay at First Lutheran Church in Rugby.  Following his technical training he worked for Northwestern Bell Telephone and later for C&G Inc. of Rugby, moving to Bottineau in 1952 to manage the C&G store there.  In 1961, the family moved to Minot where Don established his own business, Don’s Industrial Supply Co.  In 1965, they returned to Rugby and opened and operated the Montgomery Ward Agency until 1985.  A year after opening the Agency, Don also drove school bus and worked in the Rugby Post Office until retiring.

In his youth, he played hockey with the Devils Lake team, coached hockey in Bottineau for 8 years, played soft ball, enjoyed hunting, fishing and was an avid swimmer and an amateur diver, being featured in the Grand Opening of the first Rugby Community Swimming Pool.  He loved to dance and taught his daughters to do so.  Golfing every morning and playing cards, especially pinochle with the guys was an every day event after retirement.  He was a member of First Lutheran Church, a life member and the last Rugby member of the 164^th Infantry, a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, a 68 year member of the Clarence Larson American Legion Post # 23, and a charter member of the Rugby Eagles and served several years on the Rugby Park Board.  Of all the things he loved, family was most important to him and he and Pat enjoyed the many gatherings of children and grandchildren, which would at times almost burst their home at the seams.

Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Patricia; 3 daughters, Donita (Stan) Hagen of Fargo, twins, Maria (Al) King of Dickinson and Mona (Neil) Heustis of Parker, Colorado; one son, Monte (Sandy) of Rapid City, South Dakota; 12 grandchildren; 18 great grandchildren; a sister, Lois (Carl) Schaan of Minot; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and a host of friends.  He was preceded in death by one son, Michael; a granddaughter, Sarah Monger; a great granddaughter, Kourtney King;  his twin sister, Doris Monger; one brother Richard,  killed in action in the South Pacific during World War II; and his parents.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, June 14, 2013 at the First Lutheran Church in Rugby. Pastor Mike Pretzer, officiating.  Burial will be held at 12 noon on Monday, June 17th at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery with military honors accorded by the North Dakota Military Funeral Honors Detail and the Mandan American Legion Honor & Rifle Squad.

Visitation will be from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. Thursday at the Anderson Funeral Home in Rugby and will continue for one hour prior to the time of services at the church on Friday.

A time of Prayer and sharing of memories will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home.