Dona (Merling) Dyrdahl

Dona (Merling) Dyrdahl was born July 17, 1932 in Duluth, Minn., the second child of seven to Harold Merling and Elna (Bjorken) Merling. Dona married her high school sweetheart, Vernon D. Dyrdahl (also from Duluth), after his return from Korea on Jan. 27, 1951, starting her life as a Marine's wife.

Mother of Laurie (Dyrdahl) Beatty and Marcy (Dyrdahl) Raines, Dona kept her home intact with each new duty station assignment in their 23 years of service. A few of those being Hawaii; Villefranche, France; and their final tour on Camp Pendleton. Dona and family moved to Fallbrook, Calif. in the fall of 1967.

She remained in the Friendly Village for almost 48 years, working many years with Oceanside Federal, Fallbrook, and later for Levering & Levering CPA. She was also a lifetime member of VFW 1924.

Dona passed away peacefully at Palomar Medical Center on July 2, 2015. We like to think of her reuniting with her beloved Marine, who had passed away July 28, 1987.

Dona is leaving her two daughters; five grandchildren, Tim (McGee) Young, Jay Beatty, Deena Beatty, Carrie Hensley, Brian Raines; nine great-grandchildren, Caz, Dareon, Chase, Cobe, Dylan, Lilliana, Blake, Charger, Caitlyn; and one great-great grandchild, Jane.

Dona will join Vern at Riverside National Cemetery, to be "Together Forever".