Donna Lee Knox

Donna Lee Knox, aged 90, of Faribault, formerly of Prior Lake, passed away on December 14, 2024.

A Celebration Gathering will be held in Donna’s honor at 12PM with a Time of Gathering from 10AM - 12PM on Saturday, December 28, 2024, all at Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation, 4565 Pleasant St. SE, Prior Lake. All are welcome and encouraged to wear purple, her favorite color.

On February 17, 1934, the world welcomed Miss Donna Lee Dressen. She was born to Harry Dressen and Dorothy Dressen (Klingberg) in Shakopee, Minnesota. She was the second child in a family of 3 with two brothers. As a young girl, she could have been a stunt double for Shirley Temple.

 At that time in American history the world was suffering from a great depression and for 5 years of her life, along with her two brothers, they felt the effects of this economic turndown.

Donna grew up in a thriving agricultural community with a love of art and music. Her schooling included a local religious school and eventually a music college. She perfected her craft of piano and became an excellent sight reader. Music was her solace, her passion, and her sanctuary. Many joyful hours she spent playing the family’s old upright for friends and family. She was an excellent singer as well.

She met Roger Knox and after courtship were married June 26, 1954. They had 3 children, two boys and a daughter. Roger worked for Pepsi Co. Roger was a kind, loving sweet man who also loved family. Together they established a home in Prior Lake and enjoyed Christmases and many family gatherings on Prior Lake, especially at Roger’s brother Emmet's and at the family lake lot. Roger passed in 1994 at the young age of 65. Donna worked in assembly at a local agricultural company 27 years until her retirement at age 65, February 18,1999.

Donna was a beautiful, gentle and kind woman who never spoke an ill word about anyone it was not in her vocabulary. She had another passion, garage sales and became known as the Garage Sailer.

Her children, grandchildren and family were the center of her universe. Any function that her sons, daughter or grandchildren performed; she was there. She should have gotten the gold medal for parent and grandparent attendance. She totally loved her family. They say LOVE is defined by one word and that is TIME. This was not lost on her, she loved to spend time with everyone. Donna was also an avid walker and walked religiously up until age 84, at that point she resorted to the exorcise bike. She was however that unique individual who decided to go natural - healthy living with supplementation her entire life and never took any pharmaceuticals. The doctors and nurses were constantly amazed. She didn’t fit their narrative. She also was a reader and had many special interests with countless books and news articles. She loved her local church, and the Sunday morning services with her pal and roommate Phyllis. Learning about the love of Jesus through reading scripture and classes at her church and living out her faith was paramount.

As Donna started showing more signs of dementia, her son Kevin with loving support of his wife took on the task of taking care of Donna at the family home. He started the restoration project in 2010. The house was in need of a full renovation. It took Kevin and help from his contractor buddies 5 years to totally restore the old family home and make it more functional for Donna’s needs as she was aging and needed more assistance. She eventually had need of full-time care and was moved to assisted living-memory care in November of 2021. She was cared by loving nurses and visited frequently by family and friends. Donna passed away peacefully after a warm bath; she just went to sleep. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends; she was a beautiful sole and became sweeter with age.

Donna is forever remembered by her children, Kevin (Terri) Knox, Cheryl (Michael) Bartholomew; grandchildren, Tiffany (Scott) Dilger, Jordan (Robert Kubinski) Knox, Jesse (Molly) Knox, Noah (Rebecca Kontak) Knox, Patrick Knox, Colton Merwin, Theresa Collum; great-grandchildren, Kaylee Dilger, Alva Dilger; many other loving relatives and friends.

Donna is preceded by her husband Roger; Son, Gary Knox; Parents, Harry and Dorothy Dressen; and brothers Donald and Joseph Dressen.