Donna Alexis Pingert Gladstone, Manitoba Obituary

Donna Alexis Pingert

<p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Donna passed away on June 3, 2020 at home, surrounded by family.</p> <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Donna was born February 27, 1961 in Selkirk, MB to parents Frank and Yvonne Anderson. She was the second oldest of four children. As her father worked construction jobs all around Manitoba, the family spent her early years travelling and living in many different towns. The family returned to Austin in 1965 to live with relatives. It was there that the family got into the cattle business.</p> <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Donna attended elementary school in Austin. At age 12, her family moved to Carberry in 1973. After graduating from Carberry High School in 1979, Donna got her first and only off the farm job hauling potato waste from the Simplot plant to Carberry Feeders. Later, she joined her father and other family members in the business of feeding cattle.</p> <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Donna met Peter Pingert in 1984 when he came to haul a load of cattle from the family feedlot. They were married March 28th, 1987 in Mesa, Arizona in the presence of Peter&rsquo;s parents, Albert and Louise. In the early years the couple enjoyed several road trips to the USA. Their first year of marriage was spent in a house trailer in the village of Sidney, before moving it to the family farm in 1988, where they worked together with her family. Daughter Whitney was born in 1991, followed by Layne in 1995 and Alexis in 1997. In 1997, they built a new house at the family farm, moving in 3 days before the birth of daughter Alexis.</p> <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Peter and Donna operated a feedlot together and fed Holstein steers until 2006. They then bought and fed feeder calves for a few years until they switched to cull cows. Throughout the years the farm consisted of cattle, horses, mules, goats, sheep, and donkeys. In the last year Donna was excited to see the addition of four mini donkeys and some muscovy ducks at her daughters&rsquo; persistence. Donna loved the farm and more often than not could be found outside working, driving the loader or running other equipment. Due to a runaway pony in her childhood you would never find her on a horse, but she put up with Peter&rsquo;s (and later the girls) rodeos and team roping, sometimes travelling along. She was more than capable running the feedlot alone for four winters while Peter was in Arizona with his horses.</p> <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Donna was a member of Christ Church in Austin and faithfully attended church. She also participated in the Walk for MS annually for over the last 20 years, many times claiming the status of top fundraiser for the Brandon walk. Before the girls were born she was very interested in genealogy and spent hours doing research and collecting data on family, including trips to cemeteries around the province. Donna faithfully kept a diary everyday since she was a young teenager, with daily happenings and weather. She loved country music, the radio was always on, and she attended many concerts over the years, even taking in two trips to Dauphin Countryfest with daughter Whitney.</p> <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Donna loved to read, garden, and take photos but her biggest passion was buying and feeding cattle. After the girls were all in school, she started making weekly trips to several different cattle auction marts. She spent many hours at local auctions, estate &amp; yard sales, and thrift stores and would drive a long ways for a good deal.</p> <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Donna was proud of her girls and encouraged them to be strong, independent women who could do anything they set their minds to. As a perfectionist, she believed any job worth doing was worth doing well. She was also an optimist who always tried to see the glass as half full.</p> <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Donna will be missed by her loving husband, Peter; daughters, Whitney, Layne and Alexis. She also leaves to mourn parents Frank and Yvonne Anderson; siblings Trieste (Ken Bird), Reid (Judy) Anderson, and Leanne Anderson.; mother in law Louise Pingert of Ogema, Sask.; brothers and sister in laws, Linda (deceased) Bob Dunn, Gordon (Anne) Pingert, Patty (Brian) Wiles, Eric (Lynn) Pingert; as well as aunts, uncles, and nieces and nephews.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A private family interment will take place at Austin Cemetery on June 6, 2020. A public celebration of life will follow at a later date</p>
February 27, 1961 - June 3, 202002/27/196106/03/2020
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Rosemary Hulme
August 4, 2020
Even though Donna was family we did not know each other well but her late Gramma  , Beth was my oldest sister ..... you can tell we must be related as we share many loves in life ...Dailey journals , 4 children , love of farm and animals.
Saddened by her loss and would ...
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Laura Flikweert
June 15, 2020
I am so sorry for your incredible loss. I always enjoyed our visits with the MS group at the Robins Nest, and catching up on updates on what the kids were up to. But more often Donna would listen, laugh, and have a quiet discussion with whoever was sitting beside her. Ne... Continue Reading
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Gord & Barb Manning
June 10, 2020
We are sorry to hear of Donna's passing.Thinking of you all. With Sincere Sympathy!
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Phil, Myrna, Justin and Miranda Adams
June 9, 2020
So sorry to hear of Donna's passing.  Phil always enjoyed his visits with Donna at the auction mart.  Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
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Lora DeJaegher (Dixon)
June 9, 2020
Our condolences to Pete and the girls during the time. You are in our thoughts.
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Charlotte Adam
June 8, 2020
I’m so sorry to hear of Donna’s passing. She always wore a smile and I always enjoyed a quick chat with her when I was working at the post office. My condolences to you Peter, and your girls! 💞
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Henry and Martha Dyck
June 7, 2020
Sending our deepest sympathy to Frank and Yvonne, Peter and the girls
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Helen Smith
June 7, 2020
Our deepest sympathies to you Peter and girls and all Donna's family, we are thinking of you all at this difficult time and praying for peace and comfort. Donna always had a smile and was such a friendly soul. She will be missed by all.
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Pat (Kowalchuk) Reimer
June 7, 2020
Frank, Yvonne and family:
So sorry to hear of Donna's passing.  My love and prayers for the family.
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Isabel Cathcart
June 6, 2020
. “I’m so sorry your family is experiencing the pain of a loss of your loved one.  Donna always had such a nice smile.