Wesley Lee Djonne

Wesley (Wes) Lee Djonne passed away peacefully at GoldPine Home on Sunday, October 12.

Memorial Services will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, November 1, 2025, at New Salem Lutheran Church, Turtle River. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m., Friday, October 31, 2025, at Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home, with a Prayer Service and Time of Sharing at 6:30 p.m., and one hour prior to the service at the church. Inurnment with Military Honors will be at Pony Lake Cemetery, Bemidji. Arrangements by Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Bemidji.

Wes was born on December 17, 1930, to Alf and Della (Barden) Djonne in Baudette, Minnesota. He grew up in the Deer Lake community north of Wilton, spending a great deal of his youth outdoors hunting, fishing and snowmobiling with his father and younger brother, Chet. He attended the one-room Deer Lake School and Bemidji High School, graduating in 1949.

In 1948, while still a high school student, Wes joined the National Guard. His Guard unit was activated in 1951; he went to Korea and served with the 7th Infantry Division, 32nd Infantry Regiment north of the 38th parallel. Wes received an Honorable Discharge from the U. S. Army in May 1952. He then returned to the Beltrami County Highway Department where he had been working since the spring of 1950. Wes worked first loading gravel trucks, then moved into the Engineering Department as draftsman and joined the I.U.O.E. Local #49 Union. Wes was promoted and held the position of Assistant Engineer from 1966 until his retirement in December 1992, serving Beltrami County for 42 years.

In 1957, Wes rejoined the U.S. Army National Guard unit in Bemidji, serving as a reservist until 1968. During that time, he was a member of the U.S, 5th Army Rifle Team for five years, participating (and placing!) in several marksmanship competitions. In the early 1960’s, Wes joined the Bemidji Volunteer Fire Department, he attended numerous fire calls in the Bemidji area throughout the 60’s and resigned in 1969.

Wes met Dolores May Guest in the mid 1950’s while working on the county road by her family’s home east of Bemidji. Wes and Dolores were married at Aardahl Lutheran Church in Bemidji on June 7, 1958. They made their home here, first living in a tiny apartment on America Avenue. In 1961, they purchased their first home, located west of town near the old fairgrounds site. In 1979 the family moved to a newly built home in the St. Onge subdivision near the Power Dam Road, living there until 2018. Wes and Dolores had two children, daughter Traci Lee and son Todd Eric, and were married 30 years until her death on June 17, 1988.

A few years later, Wes found a second wonderful partner in Sally Darlyn Picolet. He and Sally were set up on a blind date by a family friend and were married at the United Methodist Church in Bemidji on November 22, 1991. They too were married for 30 years until Sally’s death on December 14, 2021.

Wes thoroughly enjoyed his retirement! There were many hunting seasons at “The Shack” with his son, grandchildren, brother, in-laws, nephews and friends – and, of course, blackberry brandy and Budweiser! A talented musician, Wes, played and sang country music in the group Old Friends with longtime friends Lee Sande, Don Drusch and Harold Borchers. He played at the weekly music jams at Pony Lake Church and the Bemidji Senior Center for many years, and when his daughter and son-in-law moved back to the area, he also had jam sessions with his son-in-law James. An avid model builder as a kid, in his retirement, Wes discovered building radio-controlled model airplanes. He admitted enjoying the building process more than the actual flying and often built planes for other Paul Bunyan R/C Flyers Flying Club members. During his almost five years residing at GoldPine, he built 9 airplanes – one with a 4-foot wingspan – and had them hanging from the ceiling in his room. Wes also enjoyed outdoor projects and could always be counted on to help his kids with landscaping and the like.

Wes is survived by his daughter, Traci Djonne Schanke (James), his son, Todd Djonne (Jenny); grandchildren Sophia Palm (Zach), Sarah Notermann (Matt), Eric Djonne; great-grandson Grant Notermann; sisters Lois Drusch and Arlene Gardinier (Duane); many nieces, nephews, in-laws, and many wonderful friends, especially Harold Borchers and Fred Sanford. He is also survived by stepchildren Rachelle (Terry Bartels) Fuller, Melessa Hunter and Vinson (Cindy) Picolet and their families.

He was preceded in death by his wives, Dolores and Sally; his parents, Alf and Della Djonne; his brother Chester Djonne; his cranky little feline companion of 19 years, Brandy/Kitty (aka Baby Grandma); dear friends Ernie Bauer, Don Drusch, Lee Sande, James Burford and Robert Iverson.

Urn Bearers: Eric Djonne, Sophia (Djonne), Palm, Zach Palm, Sarah (Djonne) Notermann, Matt Notermann, Mike Feipel, Fred Sanford and Harold Borchers.

Honorary Urn Bearers: Don Drusch (deceased), Lee Sande (deceased), Ernie Bauer (deceased), Kent Seado (deceased) and Ray Sauve (deceased).

Wes’ family would like to thank the amazing staff and residents at GoldPine Home for filling his years there with love, friendship, fun and excellent care, and the Sanford Hospice staff for their many kindnesses over the past month.

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