Dawn C. Jongeward, 76, Valley City, ND passed away at SMP Health-St. Raphael in Valley City April 25, 2026.  A celebration of her life will be held in the Traditions Funeral Services Lerud Mathias Funeral Home Chapel on North Central Ave in Valley City at 10:30 AM, Saturday, May 2, 2026, with visitation the hour prior.  The service will be live streamed, then archived, on a link provided along with her obituary on her tribute page at www.lerudmathias.com.  An online guestbook is available there as well.

Dawn was born June 30, 1949, to Richard “Dick” and Jean (McCleary) Jongeward.  She grew up on a farm near Marion, ND and graduated from Marion High School.  Her father sectioned off part of their home so she could have her own apartment and eventually she moved into her own place which was a trailer home that Dick connected to the main house with an enclosed walkway.  After he passed away, Jean and Dawn moved to Valley City.

She worked at the care center as an aide.  Coffee time at Kenny’s Restaurant was one of her favorite things and she enjoyed a good game of whist.  Her dog, Sparky, was a constant companion. In the most recent days, Dawn enjoyed sitting in the dining room chatting with residents and staff before and after mealtimes. She was one to show up an hour or more early just to visit. She was also one to know everybody’s assigned seats in the dining room. If anyone needed to know where a resident sat, she was the go-to gal. Dawn’s spunky personality will certainly be missed.

Dawn is survived by her sister-in-law, Sandy Jongeward; niece, Brandi Anderson-Johnson; nephew, Jesse (Rachel) Jongeward, and great nieces and nephews, Mya, Jalynn, Brenan and Aidan.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Joe Jongeward; infant sister, Diane; and beloved dog, Sparky.