Donald Allan “Donnie” McKay, 78

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held for Donald McKay on Saturday, November 12 at 10:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Baudette, MN with visitation one hour prior to the service. A visitation will also be held the night before on Friday, November 11 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. with a brief service to be held at 6:30 p.m. Interment will be at Elm Park Cemetery in Baudette.

Donald Allan McKay passed away on November 2, 2022 after a brief illness at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, MN.

Donnie, as he was more commonly known, was born January 7, 1944 to James and Alice (Nelson) McKay in Baudette, MN. He attended Baudette Elementary and High School. He left high school to join the United States Navy in 1962. During his service he was stationed in San Diego and The Philippines. He was honorably discharged and transferred to U.S. Naval Reserves in1965 until 1968. He obtained his High School Equivalent Certificate in 1965.

Donnie and Sharon McClain were married on October 16, 1965 at Bethany Lutheran Church in Williams, MN. During their marriage they had two children, a daughter Tracy and a son Scott.

Donnie married Mary Ellen Hovde on July 25, 1987 at Sacred Heart Church in Baudette. Donnie and Mary had one son, Nicholas. They made their home in Baudette.

Donnie was baptized, confirmed and received into full communion with the Catholic faith in September of 1989. In the years that followed, his faith became an integral part of his life, attending mass on a regular basis and serving his parish where needed.

HIs entire life was devoted to service to his family and community. Donnie was an active member of the American Legion Club Post 217 where he served as Commander in 1981 and 1986. He also was a member of the Baudette Ceremonial Squad. He was a longtime member of the Baudette Fire Department. Donnie was most well known in the community for his 43 years of service on the Lake of the Woods Ambulance Squad. Many have stated that Donnie either has taken them or someone they love to the hospital or on an out-of-town transfer at least once. He was honored for his service to the Ambulance Squad in April of 2022 with an open house retirement party.

During his life, Donnie worked several jobs including bartender at the American Legion, construction work, Canadian National Railway, Dodds Lumber and Baudette Fireman’s Relief Association Gambling Manager. He retired from full time employment from United States Postal Service in 2006. After retirement he worked part-time for Matt’s Sewer Blanket Company where he assembled blankets with his wife and son Nicholas at their Baudette manufacturing site.

In his free time, Donnie enjoyed fishing, hunting, cooking, reading, watching sports and home repair and renovation projects. After several trips to visit his mother-in-law in the Warroad Care Center, Donnie eventually discovered Seven Clans Casino and in recent years he found happiness in traveling there and to other Minnesota casinos to try his luck. In fact, one of Donnie’s last enjoyable evenings was spent at the Warroad casino with his wife just two days before becoming hospitalized prior to his death.

Donnie was preceded in death by his parents; a brother Gary McKay and sisters and brothers-in-law Joyce and Bob Borgen and Dian and Paul Irwin, brother-in-law Jack Laffin; a granddaughter Kayla Inderlee; a nephew Patrick McKay; and his in-laws Norman and Dorothy Hovde.

Donnie is survived by his wife Mary Ellen, daughter Tracy (Tom Makarchuk) Inderlee of Circle Pines, MN, sons Scott (Suzie Rooney) McKay of North Branch, MN and Nicholas McKay of Baudette, MN; a sister Kathleen Laffin of Baudette; grandchildren Danielle, Kalley and Mackenzie Inderlee and Ryan McKay. Donnie was also an important grandfather figure to Sunshine and Patience Larson. Also surviving Donnie are sisters-in-law Patty (Tony) Beckel, Susan (Marlin) Mattson and Ann (Howard) Goethe; brothers-in-law Jeff (Jennifer) Hovde and Michael (Dale Bray) Hovde; and several nieces and nephews.