Donald J. Birmingham

“I lived a good life, I can’t complain,” said Donald James Birmingham of Moorhead, MN. Don, at 95 years of age, died peacefully on April 28, 2026.

Don was born in Fairmont, MN, to George Birmingham and Eunice (Caughey) Birmingham on January 27, 1931. He spent his childhood years in Cannon Falls, MN, and Minneapolis, MN, graduating from high school in 1949. Shortly after graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army and was stationed in Alabama.

Don married Jean Alice Dombrouski on June 14, 1952, at St. Cecilia’s Church in St. Paul, MN. Together they raised six children. Throughout his life, Don worked hard and provided well for his family. His children still talk of that one 1967 vacation to Disneyland where they spent 2-weeks riding in a station wagon without AC and a pop-up camper was their nighttime respite.

It was Don's transfer from American Hardware Mutual, in Minneapolis that brought him and his young family to Moorhead, in 1959. He joined the Walt Gehrts Insurance Agency which was incorporated into Moorhead Insurance Agency. Don subsequently became president and part owner of the agency, and it was sold in 1987. He retired from the insurance business in 1997.

A perennial people person, Don, joined numerous Moorhead community service organizations in the early 1960s-70s, predominantly the Jaycees and Chamber of Commerce; he also served on Moorhead’s City Council and on the planning commission for Moorhead’s airport.

It is within these affiliations that Don & Jean established life-long friendships, many of whom became frequent companions in their travelling, golfing, sailing adventures, and were faithful entertainment partners.

Fearless in the kitchen, Don honed his cooking skills, hosting many dinner parties with Jean for friends, neighbors, and their children often donning his favorite aprons, ‘Please Kiss the Cook’ or ‘It’s 5:00 Happy Hour Somewhere’. His dream of owning a restaurant came true when he and three friends partnered to open Viking Oaks in Moorhead.

After retirement Don & Jean stayed warm wintering in Mesa, AZ, where he was excited to fly his radio-controlled model airplanes without persistent 20mph winds. Don was proud of his stable of R/C model airplanes numbering in the dozens. He challenged himself to build them bigger, faster and better (aka crash-proof.) He was a Valley R/C Flyers member for many years.

St. Joseph's Catholic Church is where Don found spiritual growth. He was a frequent liturgy reader at church services and a member of the Knights of Columbus.

In later years, Don & Jean settled into apartment living where he enjoyed reading thrillers and had a daily routine of hammering out a crossword puzzle or two and continued to be a fierce competitive card player especially with his close friend, Jim Haarstad. Mostly, Don relished spending time with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Survived by his beloved wife of nearly 74 years; his children, Katherine Birmingham-Bjorndahl (Bill), Le Sueur, MN, Daniel (Vonnie) Birmingham, Moorhead, MN, Michael Birmingham, Enderlin, ND, Rebecca (Alar) Hakk, Lake Park, MN, Christopher Birmingham (Linda) Fargo, ND; grandchildren, Tony Birmingham (Monica), Matthew Kradle (Mariam), Adam Birmingham (Tessa), Brian Hakk, Rachel Birmingham, Allison Green (Storm), Paige Sawardeker (Prasad), Andrea DeJong (Dylan), Grant Birmingham, Jamie Wellington (Kyle); step-grandchildren, Justin Hayes (Candice), Brandon Hayes (Maggie), and Kevin Hayes (Sam); fifteen cherished grandchildren; sister-in-law, Lila Birmingham, Burnsville, MN; half sister-in-law, Kathleen Carlson, St. Paul, MN; and nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Sandra Kradle; parents; brother, Gerald Birmingham; sister, Mary Mielke; stepbrothers, James and Robert Werth; and stepsister, Susan Jacobson.

Don was proud to be the Birmingham family patriarch as the oldest, he outlived all of his siblings. We love you and will miss you, Don, dad, grandpa.

Our family is grateful for the care and support Don received from the Fargo Sanford Hospice team; they are angels on this earth.

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Fargo Sanford Hospice, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Roger Maris Cancer Center, Fargo, ND.

A Visitation for Don will begin at 9:30 AM, Friday, May 22, 2026, followed by his Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 AM, in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Moorhead, MN. He will be laid to rest in St. Joeseph’s Catholic Cemetery, Moorhead.

(Korsmo Funeral and Cremation Service, Moorhead, MN)