Donna Mae Alms

Donna Mae Alms, 99, of Red Wing, died Monday, November 17, 2025, at Deer Crest Senior Living with her family by her side. She was born on September 12, 1926, in Red Wing, MN, daughter of Harold and Lillian (Benson) Swanson.

At the age of four, she moved with her parents to Minneapolis, MN. She attended North High School, but after completing tenth grade and at the age of 16, she moved to Red Wing and lived with relatives. Donna hated school, but loved drawing and painting, especially models and fashion design. With her artistic talent, she began working for Red Wing Pottery, hand-painting dinnerware for nine years. On the weekends, Donna would travel by bus or train to Minneapolis often to visit her five younger siblings and bring them gifts of pottery. Donna was quite the fashionista who enjoyed getting dressed up and going out with family and friends.

On October 30, 1947, Donna married Leverne "Big Ole" Johnson at the parsonage of First Covenant Church. After the first of their four children were born, they moved into a new home that Leverne built. As a stay-at-home mom, Donna earned extra income by hand-tinting portraits for local photographers. This was before color photography.

In 1972, shortly before their 25th wedding anniversary, Leverne passed away. Donna lovingly cared for him at home for the last months of his life. Now with three teens still in the home, she had to learn how to drive and manage finances. Donna took a typing class and started working full-time at Chalet Studio, then as a receptionist at Citizens Security Insurance Company for 10 years, retiring in 1987.

In 1978, Donna was introduced to Morrie Alms and on April 28, 1979, they were married at First Covenant Church Wing. They celebrated 44 wonderful years of marriage before Morrie passed away in 2023. Donna was a member of First Covenant Church since 1964.

Donna always enjoyed being on a beach or near the water, first with her children and later with her grandchildren. Donna and Morrie enjoyed weekends at a cabin on French Lake before purchasing a home in Wacouta overlooking Lake Pepin, where they loved watching the eagles soar and big riverboats go by. In 2014 they moved to a townhouse in Red Wing, then to Deer Crest Assisted Living in 2022.

Donna's family was especially important to her, and she enjoyed spending time with her and Morrie's combined families. She loved tending to their flower gardens and decorating their home for the holidays. Donna also enjoyed cooking, baking, shopping, taking walks, and crocheting and knitting gifts for her family. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend who will be deeply missed.

Survivors include 4 children, Kathy Johnson, Dan (Jill) Johnson, and Diane (Clarence) Demers, of Red Wing, MN; Keith (Renee) Johnson of Hager City, WI; 1 stepson, Walt (Sharon) Alms of Austin, MN; 10 grandchildren, Chris "Vern" (Bri) Johnson of St. Paul; Nate Johnson of Red Wing; Jeni (Kevin) Grimm of Eagan; Lucas (Samantha) Johnson of River Falls; Shane (Crystal) Eckhoff of Goodhue; Cole (Mandy) Eckhoff and Tanner Eckhoff of Red Wing; Brittany (Michael) Symonds of Prior Lake; Nick (Kelly) Alms of Plymouth; Sara (Alex) Hall of Sahuarita, AZ; 15 great-grandchildren, Avi and Kroix Johnson; Lily, Jack and Brooks Grimm; Lucy and Miles Johnson; Braeden, Carsen, Piper, and Wesley Eckhoff; Addison and Mitchell Symonds; Oliver and Emma Alms; Kinsley and Beau Hall; 3 sisters, Sandra Anderson of Canby, OR; Bonita Thurner and Carole Rocha of Minneapolis, MN; 1 sister-in-law, Shirley Swanson of Walker, MN; 1 brother-in-law, Richard (Elaine) Scharpen of Red Wing, MN; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by both her husbands; her parents; stepfather Arthur Nelson; granddaughter, Alyssa Johnson; son-in-law Michael Johnson; brothers, Thomas (Marion) Swanson and Kenneth Swanson.

Her family would like to thank all the staff at Deer Crest, Brighton Hospice, and Bluestone Physician Services for the wonderful care and kindness provided to Donna.

Memorials are preferred to Brighton Hospice, First Covenant Church, or the River Bluff Humane Society.

Service will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, December 2, 2025 at the First Covenant Church in Red Wing, Minnesota with a visitation one hour prior to the service from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Burials will take place at Oakwood Cemetery and Burnside Cemetery in Red Wing, Minnesota. Arrangements are handled by Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel.