Donald Neil Burns

Donald N. Burns, age 83 of Grafton, North Dakota passed away Friday, November 21, 2025 at the Lutheran Sunset Home of Grafton.

Donald Neil Burns was born September 24, 1942 in Grafton, North Dakota, the son of the late Leslie and Donna (Kingsbury) Burns. He attended school in Auburn and graduated from Grafton High School. Donald enlisted in the United States Army in 1961 and was honorably discharged in 1964. He returned to Grafton and was untied in marriage to Cheryl Desautel on October 29, 1966 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church of Grafton. He worked for Montana Dakota Utilities as a serviceman, working there for 32 years until his retirement in 2006. The couple made their home in Grafton until the time of his death.

He was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church and the Grafton American Legion Post 41. He loved deer hunting and fishing for Walleye.

Donald is survived by his wife, Cheryl Burns, Grafton, ND; his siblings: Beverly Anderson, Fordville, ND; Michael (Kerry) Burns, Hamilton, ND; Barbara Dolan, Grand Forks, ND; Jane (Tom) Knight, Escondido, CA; Judy (Tom) Osowski, Stephen, MN; Jack (Phyllis) Burns, Grafton, ND; Tim (Mary Kay) Burns, Grafton, ND; sisters-in-law: Sandy Burns, Grafton, ND; Bonnie Desautel, Grand Forks, ND. Several nieces and nephews also survive. He was preceded in death by his parents, Cheryl’s parents, Robert and Delores Desautel, brother, Patrick Burns, brothers-in-law: Frank Dolan, Orrin Osowski, Ken Anderson, Robert Desautel, Vernon Anderson and sister-in-law, Joanie Anderson.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Tuesday, November 25, 2025 at 11:00 A.M. at the St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Grafton. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be at the St. John’s Catholic Cemetery, Grafton. Military Rites will be provided by the Grafton American Legion Post and the North Dakota National Guard Honor Guard. Donald’s funeral will be livestreamed on the Tollefson Funeral Home Website.