Deacon Tony McDonald dies Dec. 7 at age 88

Deacon Anthony “Tony” McDonald died at his home in Fort Totten on Dec. 7 in the care of HIA Hospice and family members. He was a lifetime parishioner of Seven Dolors Church in Fort Totten and was the first American Indian to be ordained a Catholic deacon in the Diocese of Fargo. He served as a deacon since his May 28, 1983 ordination.
 
Anthony V. McDonald was born Aug. 28, 1937 in the area of Fort Totten as a member of Spirit Lake Tribe. He went on to attend a Catholic boarding school. When his mother died in 1953, he became responsible for his eight brothers and sisters, whom he supported with the help of friends and family. That same year, he became valedictorian of his graduating class. 

He went to college and met his future wife, Vina Wells, at a powwow celebration. They married in 1959. They raised their children in the Catholic faith and with the heritage of the Dakota, Hidatsa, and Arikara nations. Tony first worked at farms in the Lucky Mound area of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation, but they would later move to Spirit Lake Nation. 

Though McDonald’s personal challenges included alcoholism, he went through treatment and stayed sober since 1978. For many years Deacon McDonald was director of the Family Development Center, which treated alcohol use with a focus on family unification and family healing. He also assisted Spirit Lake Tribe’s re-launch of its alcohol treatment program. 

He was also committed to honoring U.S. military veterans on Veterans Day and fallen service members on Memorial Day. He and his family coordinated efforts to recognize and support veterans and deceased military members. 

In 2016, in recognition of his prominent role in representing his tribe and culture, Deacon McDonald was inducted into the North Dakota Native American Hall of Honor at the North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum in Bismarck.

Deacon McDonald was a father to ten, a grandfather to 34, a great-grandfather to 70 and a great-great-grandfather to six. He was also a godfather to ten. He and his wife adopted another 12 family members through the Dakota hunka adoption ceremony. 

He was a fluent Dakota speaker and taught elementary school students the language and Dakota culture, including dancing and singing. He developed his own educational materials and initiated an Indian Club in school. He also mentored rodeo club students and served on local school boards. He owned a private business that provided security and cleaning services.

He was laid to rest at St. Jerome’s Cemetery in Fort Totten next to his wife of 62 years.

“Tony set the example for us through hard work, determination, and putting God first,” the McDonald family said in the deacon’s obituary. “Tony continued to serve God and to help wherever he could. He shared his favorite encouraging words often: ‘There is no success without God’.”