Donald Nygaard, 78, of Thief River Falls, MN died on Tuesday, October 23, 2012 at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, ND. Funeral services will be 11:00 AM, Friday, October 26, 2012 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN with Pastor Bruce Fischer officiating. Visitation will be 5-8 PM, Thursday, October 25, 2012 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN with a Prayer Service at 7:00 PM. Donald Bernhard Nygaard was born on August 7, 1934 to Leo and Amanda Zelda (Arneson) Nygaard in Thief River Falls where he attended school and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1953. Don served his country in the US Air Force for four years. He was stationed at Mitchell Air Force Base. They met at a White Castle in New York. He was united in marriage to Rose Phyllis Guarino on August 3, 1958 in Hempstead Long Island, New York. They lived in Elmont Long Island for about four months and then moved to Lancaster, California for about 20 years. Don worked at Safeway Grocery Store as a produce manager. He worked for a couple of years as an embalmer at a funeral home in California. They moved to Thief River Falls in 1976. Don worked at Arctic Cat for a short time and then worked in the Hartz Grocery in the warehouse and continued driving for Hartz trucking up until last week. Don enjoyed taxidermy and making antler art. He enjoyed his boat and collecting guns. He was an avid hunter. He had strong faith in his savior Jesus Christ. He was a member of the Thief River Falls Sportsman Club. He and his wife Rose enjoyed dancing for many years. He is survived by his wife Rose of Thief River Falls, MN, three daughters: Donna (Don) Heaney of Myrtle Beach, SC, Marianne Hay of San Antonio, TX, Jodi (Jeffrey) Olson of Baudette, MN, five grandchildren: Jeremy Nygaard, Holly Nygaard, Tiffany (Tim) Landow, Tyler Flom, Trevor Flom, four great grandchildren: Dylan Nygaard, Isaac Nygaard, Addison and Peyton Landow, two brothers: Wayne (Patti) Nygaard of Quartz Hill, CA, Richard (Martha Jean) Nygaard of Northeast, PA, one sister JoAnn (Hugh) Grant of Galt, CA, and several nieces and nephews. Don was preceded in death by his parents and grandson Travis Flom, and one sister Carol Wildermuth.