Blegen, Donald Lee "Cookie Man" 1942 - 2024
BLEGEN, WANGSNESS, BENDER, CAROLAN, PROVOST, RISSMAN, WAITE, MCINTOSH, YARWOOD
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 2/2/2024 at 10:39:49
Donald “Cookie Man” Blegen, age 81, of rural Decorah, IA passed away Thursday January 25, 2024, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, MN.
Funeral service will be 11:00 A.M. Tuesday January 30, 2024, at St. John’s Lutheran Church Locust, 1638 Big Canoe Road, Decorah, IA 52101. Rev. Randy Kittelson presiding.
Visitation will be from 4 – 7 P.M. on Monday January 29, 2024, at Helms Funeral Home, 306 E. Water St, Decorah, IA 52101.
Memorials can be made out to St. John's Lutheran Church, the Locust cemetery, or to the family.
Donald Lee Blegen was born November 9, 1942, to Arthur & Viola (Wangsness) Blegen in Decorah, IA.
Don spent his entire life in and around his hometown of Decorah. He attended Thomas Roberts (Decorah) High School where he was involved in several activities. The place he exceled was football. He held a school record and received a full football scholarship to Drake University upon his graduation. Alas, college life was not for him. He was a hometown boy who remained that way all his life.
Don had several interests; cars, sports, hunting, and fishing were top on the list. He also had a few jobs over the years, but the one that “stuck” for 41 years was being a Cookie Salesman for Rippin' Good Cookies. He loved seeing people and driving his route. Over the years he always said he put in well over a million miles.
On February 8th, 1964, he married Carol Bender, and they raised 2 children together. He ran his route and farmed with his father-in-law for several years, eventually buying the farm and taking over. He was always busy, but never too much so that he couldn’t be the best husband and dad possible. Never missing an event and always having a kind heart and wise words.
Don is survived by his wife, Carol; daughter, Shelly (Brian) Carolan; son, Jeff (Kelly) Blegen; grandchildren, Brittany (Colby Rissman) Provost, Clayton (Chelsea) Provost, Brianna (Ryan) Waite, Wyatt & Paige Blegen; great grandchildren, Creed, Capri, & Cade Provost, Hadley & Colton Waite, and honorary great grandchildren Emma, Elyse, & Raylynn Rissman; brother, Doug (Rosie) Blegen; brother-in-law Howard McIntosh and numerous nieces & nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents Art & Vi Blegen; in-laws, Virgil & Lucella Bender; sister, Judy McIntosh; nephew, Norman McIntosh; sister-in-law, Elaine Yarwood; brother-in-law, Dean Yarwood; twin great granddaughters, Kaylee & Raelyn.
Don was a crafty man who would help anyone and always had a smile for all. He could laugh and just make the day better. In his later years his passion became his “pond”, a place to fish, camp, enjoy family time and relax.
He touched so many lives and he will be missed by many.
Source: Helms Funeral Home database
Locust Cemetery
Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Jeff Getchell.
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