Donald L. Ivey

Donald L. “Don” Ivey, 76 of Devils Lake ND passed away at St. Raphael’s Care Center in Valley City, ND on Thursday, September 18, 2025. This day was the 78th birthday of the United States Air Force. The branch of service Don so proudly served.

Visitation for Don will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake, ND on Thursday, September 25, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Funeral Services will be on Friday, September 26, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. also at the funeral home. Burial and Military Honors will be accorded at the Devils Lake Cemetery.

Donald Lavelle Ivey, youngest son of Clarence Grady and Elizabeth Ruth (Long) Ivey was born on October 15, 1948, in Quitman, Mississippi. He graduated from Enterprise High School in 1968. He entered the United States Air Force on July 3, 1969, and honorably served his country during the Vietnam War in Vietnam. After his foreign service Don was stationed at the Minot Air Force Base where he met his future wife who was attending Minot State University. Don was honorably discharged from the Air Force on July 2, 1973, with the rank of Sergeant.

Don and LaVonne Armstrong were united in marriage on August 25, 1975, in Rolette, ND and they were the proud parents of two precious daughters Angie and Ashley. They established their home in Rolette where Don worked at the Rolette Community Hospital in Housekeeping. After a few years, they moved to Meridian, Mississippi and Don worked at Peavey Electronics and later a clothing manufacturing plant.

In 1981, they moved back to North Dakota to help LaVonne’s family on the dairy farm due to the illness of her father. After several years of working at the dairy farm, the family moved to northern California and enjoyed the beauty of Bear Valley where Don worked snow removal for the Bear Valley Ski Resort and the kids enjoyed many days of skiing.

Don moved to Stonewall, Mississippi to help care for his ailing parents and Don resumed employment with Peavey Electronics. After Hurricane Katrina, and the devastation that left so many families unable to rebuild their lives, he moved back to North Dakota in 2007 and called it home through the years.

Don moved to Devils Lake and worked at Home of Economy, Leever’s County Market and Wal-Mart. He took immense pride in his knowledge, ability, and determination to keep the produce section of Leever’s and Wal-Mart in impeccable shape. He had a talent for always picking out the best tasting melons and fruit and giving good advice on how to prepare each vegetable to bring out maximum flavor. He always made an effort to point out produce that was produced in America!

Don was very sports-minded and had the gift of being able to keep so many stats from so many different teams in his head. When he first lived in North Dakota he enjoyed following local sports and writing the sports section for the Pierce County Tribune, the newspaper owned by his brother-in-law. He also helped reestablish and coached the Women’s Softball Team in Rolette for several years.

Don knew about many sports, sports teams, and players, but his cheers were always for Ole Miss, New Orleans Saints, Minnesota Vikings, and Minnesota Twins. He watched them playing in person several times.

Don felt truly blessed to have the love and support of family and friends as he fought this last battle. May he rest in peace.

Don’s loving family include his daughters Angie and her husband Terry Westphal of Rugby ND and Ashley and her husband Ryan Leibfried of Devils Lake; special grandchildren Lauren and Adalyn Westphal and Caydence, Ava, and Kian Leibfried; Angie and Ashley’s mother LaVonne Ivey, Rugby; in-laws Dianne (Ron) Montonye, Barton ND, Rodney (Karen) Armstrong, Rolette ND, Russell (Mary) Armstrong, Wheaton MN and Roland (Joni) Armstrong, Bemidji MN; several nieces, nephews and their families.

He was preceded in death by his parents Grady and Ruth, brothers Austin Ivey and Thomas Ivey, sister Brenda Morgan, nephew David Ivey and in-laws Frank and Eldora Armstrong.

“Hotty Toddy, Gosh Almighty, Go Ole Miss!”