Donald Arthur Wright

Donald Arthur Wright of Stillwater, MN died December 16th, a month short of his 85 birthday. Don graduated from East High, Duluth, attended UMD, and graduated in electrical engineering at the U of M Minneapolis campus.

At E. F. Johnson Co, Waseca, he designed and built a 1000K transmitter. As an employee at 3M he held several patents, co-designing Tattle Tape Book Theft Detection System. He served a term as chair of the national Hewlett Packard computer users group.

When Ardis served as an interim pastor in churches, he enjoyed the new unofficial role of pastor's husband. Don served on church council, taught Sunday school and sang in church choirs.

Later in life he graduated with honors from William Mitchell College of Law, passed the Minnesota bar and the patent attorney exam. In retirement Don continued to invent and build and to read law related fiction.

In 22 years as a multiple myeloma survivor, Don ran 100 marathons, including at least one in each state. In 2006 Don won his age group in Grandma's Marathon. It was a special delight for him to greet his dad (an amateur radio volunteer) and kiss his mom at a mile-marker checkpoint where they were long-time volunteers on the race course. In 2019, he ran track races in the National Senior Games.

Don became a student of myeloma treatments, modifying lifestyle to extend his life. He loved life. Don was a caring friend and a good listener, gracious and kind.
He died of complications of myeloma (light chain disease), pneumonia, and side effects of cancer treatments. Don is survived by his wife, (Reverend) Ardis; adult children, Daniel Arthur (Krissy), David Edwin (Dianna), and Sarah Carol; sister, Judie Hanson; brother, Robert (Mary); brother-in-law, (Rev) Calvin Thoreson (Blanche). 

Preceded in death by parents, Arthur and Helen Wright of Duluth; sister-in-law, Janis Esther Thoreson, Edwin & Leonora Thoreson; nephew, Lee Wright (Amy); brother-in-law, Dick Hanson (Arden Hills).

Memorial Service Saturday, January 10th at Trinity Lutheran Church, Stillwater. Visitation 1pm, Service 2pm, followed by coffee. Service will be live-streamed. Memorial suggestions: International Myeloma Foundation, public radio & television, local food shelves, and world hunger.