Donald "Shorty" Gronsten, 83, passed away Monday, August 22, 2011 at the Valley View Villa in Fort Morgan. Shorty was born April 21, 1928 in Sligo, Colorado to Ewald and Mildred Corcilius Gronsten who ran the local general store, auto mechanic business and post office. The family sold that business in Sligo and moved to Weldona in the fall 1933. That same year the Gronsten family bought the general store and a few boarding rooms in Weldona. That is were Shorty and his only brother, Wilford (Bill), were raised as children. In 1945, the Gronstens sold the general store and bought the family farm in Weldona. Over the years they raised swine and cattle. They grew crops of barley, corn and alfalfa. In 1951, Shorty enlisted in the Marine Corps and served in the Korean War. He was injured in the back by flying shrapnel in the battle of Vegas Hill. He received a purple heart metal and honorable discharge in 1954. Shorty, then, returned home to Colorado to work on the family farm. He is survived by his wife, Oleta Gronsten, of Ft. Morgan; his children, Robert Gronsten of Weldona, Rosemary Gronsten – Jaeger of Mountain View, Wyoming, and Joyce Gronsten – Stahly of Bend, Oregon; a step-daughter, Henrietta Schledwitz, of Greeley, Colorado; 9 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his brother, Wilford, and his parents. Shorty was a life member of the VFW Post #2551, the PBOE #1143, and the DAV #41. He was a member and is a past president of the Colorado Cattlemen's Association. At his request, no services will be held at this time. Friends, who wish, may make memorial donations the organization of their choice.