Funeral services for Donald F. Zeller, age 74 of Carson, will be held at 10:30a.m. MT Tuesday December 23, 2008 at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Carson. Pastor Wayne Rouse will officiate with burial in the Carson Community Cemetery.


A family service will be at 6:00pm MT on Monday evening at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Carson.


Special music will be provided by Janice Steinmetz, pianist.


Serving as Honorary Casketbearers are Brian Christenson, Newell Zeller, Barry Striegel, Harlee Ann Zeller, Chloe Zeller, Cody Hanson, Jed Hanson, and Zachary Kilbane.

Serving as Active Casketbearers are Joshua Peterson, Matthew Peterson, Randy Zeller, Robert Zeller, Daryl Zeller, and Terry Haberstroh.

A memorial has been established to the American Lung Association and Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church.

DONALD FREDRICK ZELLER was born January 27, 1934 on a farm south of Leith, ND to Henry and Leontina (Mueller) Zeller. He attended a country school in Valley View Township in Grant County. Donnie attended high school in Leith graduating from Leith High School in 1951. He farmed with this parents south of Leith. Donnie was united in marriage to Bonita "Bonnie" Andersen on November 23, 1955 at Elgin, ND. They continued to live on the Henry Zeller farm and in November of 1958 moved into the "big house" after Donnie's parents moved to Bismarck. To this union were born four children, Wanda, Clayton, Cory and Troy.

In 1975, Donnie began working for the U.S. Postal Service as a substitute rural route letter carrier. They later combined the Leith and Carson routes and then in 1982, Donnie began working full time as a rural route carrier in addition to operating the farm.

Donnie and Bonnie lived on the farm for 25 years and then moved into Carson in 1980 where they constructed a new home. They lived another 28 years in Carson and in 1996 he retired. Even though they rented their farm land out, he continued to drive to the farm looking at the crops and wildlife.

He passed from this life on Thursday afternoon, December 18, 2008 at the Wishek Nursing Home in Wishek, ND at the age of 74 years, 10 months, 21 days.

He was a member of St. Luke's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Leith and later on Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Carson. He was President of the Rural Fire District for many years, a member of the Quality of Work Life Organization for Rural Letter Carriers; and was the National Safety Council Safe Driver for 11 years.

He had an extensive collection of miniature John Deere tractors; and was an avid stamp and coin collector. He loved playing cards with his friends. Donnie loved to hunt, fish, and camp, especially with his kids and grandkids. In the summer, he looked forward to buying produce at the Farmer's Market.

Keeping him in their fondest memories are his wife, Bonnie, Carson, ND; three sons and daughters-in-law, Clayton and Renee Zeller, Hazen, ND; Cory and Belinda Zeller, Bismarck, ND; Troy and Susan Zeller, Pelican Rapids, MN; one daughter and son-in-law, Wanda and John Peterson, Fargo, ND; six grandchildren, Joshua Peterson, Matthew Peterson, Harlee Ann Zeller, Chloe Zeller, Cody Hanson, Jed Hanson; one brother and two sisters-in-law, Douglas and Alice Zeller, Prescott Valley, AZ; Adeline Zeller, Bismarck, ND; two sisters and brother-in-law, Marilyn Swenson, Fargo, ND; Charlotte and Sandy McCalla, Columbus, OH.

He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, Melvin, Clifford, Carl, and Norman Zeller.

Visitation will be on Monday from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. MT at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Carson.