Donald Ray Dass died at home in Duluth, Minnesota, on May 4, 2023, at the age of 72. He was born in Virginia, Minnesota, on May 30, 1950, the first of four children born to Ray and Esther (Anderson) Dass. He spent his formative years in Kelsey, before moving to Independence and graduating from AlBrook High School in 1968. He graduated with honors from the University of Minnesota, Duluth, in 1988 with a degree in History. Don worked full-time as an Intelligence Analyst for the Minnesota Army National Guard, retiring in 2008 as a Sergeant Major after serving over 24 years.