Dawn Lunde, 56, Lakeville
Dawn Marie Lunde, 56, of Lakeville, passed away peacefully Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, in Owatonna, surrounded by family following a year long journey with pancreatic cancer.
Dawn was born Feb. 26, 1969, in Minneapolis, to Donald C. and Susan M. (Pfrom Gavin) McDonald.
She attended school in Owatonna, through 1984 and graduated from Burnsville High School in 1987. She later graduated from the University of Minnesota. Her career was spent in the insurance industry, first with State Farm in Richfield, and most recently as a remote associate of Lockton, based out of Kansas City, Missouri.
Dawn married the love of her life, Steve Lunde, on Aug. 28, 1993, in Shakopee. Together, they raised their two children, Erin and Trevor, in Apple Valley.
Dawn was well known for her energetic attitude, her helpful & generous nature, and as a second mother to many. Her homemade ice cream (30+ flavors!) and personalized blankets were shared with and enjoyed by many. Her kids were her pride and joy, and as they were growing up, she was the ultimate soccer and hockey mom.
Dawn is survived by Steve Lunde of Apple Valley; daughter, Erin (Tyler) Wear of Rogers; son, Trevor Lunde of Apple Valley; father, Don McDonald of Owatonna; mother-in-law, Janice (Hill) Lunde of Apple Valley; sisters, Paula (Brian) Deml and Christine (Jim) Rotthoff, both of Owatonna; brother-in-law, Mark Lunde (Tammy Michel) of Ellsworth, Iowa; sister-in-law, Lisa (Rob) Franchino of Apple Valley; nieces and nephews, Krissy (Lunde) and Alex Benskin, their children Stella and Elin, Jessica (Deml) and Chris Matz, their son Dave, Austin Lunde, Tony and Meghan (Spindler) Deml, their children Carson and Silas, and Lauren (Franchino) and Drew Wagner, their son Frank, Mike Franchino (Sydney Myers) and Rachel Franchino.
Dawn was preceded in death by her mother, Susan (Pfrom Gavin) McDonald; father-in-law, Orlen Lunde; paternal grandparents, Donald N. and Anne (MacDonnell) McDonald; maternal grandparents, Ethel (Amlaw) and James Gavin; sister-in-law, Sandra (Baker) Lunde.
A Celebration of Dawn’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, at Michaelson Funeral Home in Owatonna, with a visitation one hour prior. A visitation/luncheon will follow the service at the Owatonna Country Club between 12 and 4 p.m. Dawn will be interred at Forest Hill Cemetery in Owatonna.
The family wishes to thank the staff of Benedictine Living Community and St Croix Hospice for their care and support of Dawn and the family.
In lieu of flowers, memorials made to the Lunde family will be forwarded to Lockton’s ACE program (Associates Caring for Each other), or donations can be made directly to pancan.org or the American Cancer Society.