Donna (Brink) Peterson, age 91, of Canton, Minnesota passed away peacefully on October 15, 2025 at the Harmony Care Center.
Donna was born on June 15, 1934 in Austin, Minnesota, the daughter of Joseph and Hazel Mlenar. She attended Austin Country and Public Schools. On January 13, 1953 she married William R. Brink in Wykoff, Minnesota. They made their home in Preston, Minnesota where they were raising their three sons Rick, Donny, and David. Her husband, William (Bill), died at the age of 35 from a work-related accident. On June 8, 1968 she married Kenneth S. Peterson, a widower with seven children. Donna then moved to the Peterson farm in Lanesboro where she and Kenny began to raise their ten children together. They left the farm in 1975 moving to Houston, Minnesota, then shortly after making Canton, Minnesota their home. There Donna babysat for local families for many years.
Donna enjoyed her friends, dancing, trips to Vegas, and Willie Nelson Music. Her greatest joy were all her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren to whom she would always say “I Love You”.
Donna is survived by her sons Richard Brink of Canton, Minnesota, Donald (Jean) Brink, of Lanesboro, Minnesota, and David (Debbie) Brink of Rushford, Minnesota; step-children Geraldine (Mike) Warner of Plymouth, Minnesota, Patricia Haugen of Roberts, Wisconsin, Cindy Sabatoni of Reno, Nevada, Jim (Kim Wagner) Peterson of Canton, Minnesota, Julie (Paul) McKernan of Rochester, Minnesota, and Tom (Charlene Draper) Peterson of Kasson, Minnesota; 20 grandchildren; 23 great grandchildren; a brother Don (Shirley) Mlenar of Spring Valley, Minnesota; and a sister-in-law Janis Mlenar of Spring Valley, Minnesota. She is preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Hazel Mlenar; first husband, William Brink; second husband, Kenneth Peterson; brother, Herb Mlenar; stepdaughter Mary Lou Kaiser; step-grandson, David DeSerre; and stepdaughter-in-law Karen Peterson.
Memorial service will be 2 pm, Saturday, November 1st at the Mengis Funeral Home in Mabel. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.
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