Donald Selmer Gunderson

Donald Selmer Gunderson, 73, of Weatherford, passed away on June 3, 2021. He was born September 19, 1947, in Park Rapids, Minnesota, to Gustave Selmer and Olga Juliet Snelling Gunderson. Upon his father’s death, Olga married Fred A. Cooper, who continued to raise Don after his mother’s early death. 

Don graduated from Park Rapids High School in 1965 and served 13 years in the military, 11 of those years in the U.S. Navy Submarine Service aboard the USS Casimir Pulaski. After leaving the Submarine Service, Don worked in the emerging computer industry, and as an instructor of mathematics and chemistry, and as a private tutor. Don had a lifelong love of animals large and small and loved blues music.

He married Wendelynn Jolene Darnold on June 24, 1973, and they lived in Connecticut, Virginia, Tennessee, New York, New Hampshire, Maryland, Georgia, and Nebraska, before spending the last twenty years of his life in Texas.

Don was preceded in death by his parents; stepfather; brother, LaVon H. and Julia Gunderson; nephew, Thomas L Gunderson; and niece, Marianne K. Jacoby.

He is survived by his wife, Wendy, of Weatherford; daughter, Kira and husband, Michael Connally of Annetta; cousin, Janet Walthers of Milan, Minnesota; and nephew, Gus and Renay Gunderson, of Big Bend, Minnesota. Interment will be in the Annetta Cemetery.