DE SMET — Donna J. Wade, age 92, of De Smet, passed away Monday, October 21, 2024, at Avera Memorial Hospital in De Smet.
Services for Donna are at 10 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 26, at the American Lutheran Church in De Smet. The service will be livestreamed and recorded via www.crawfordosthus.com.
Visitation is from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25, at the Crawford-Osthus Funeral Home in De Smet.
Donna Jean Wade was born on August 17, 1932, to Sam and Margrete (James) Gilbertson near Erwin. She attended Happy Hill country school and Erwin High School. Donna earned her teaching certificate from General Beadle State Teachers College in Madison and taught at Manchester School.
She married Roy Wade on August 31, 1952 at West Bethany Lutheran Church. They lived briefly near Camp Pendleton, Calif., until Roy was discharged from the Marines.
They returned to South Dakota and farmed for the next 65 years southwest of De Smet. Donna worked alongside Roy on the farm and also cooked for many years at De Smet School. She loved to garden, bake and play cards. Donna also helped tie many quilts for the church.
She moved to Iroquois after Roy’s death in 2019, then moved to the Village in De Smet one year ago. She was a member of the American Lutheran Church of De Smet.
She treasured her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She is survived by her three children: Jean (Marv) Bouska of Rapid City, Duane of Walcott, Iowa, and Mary (Brad) Wienbar of Iroquois; four grandchildren: Mathew (Rachel) Wienbar of Beresford, Annie (Kevin) Schaefer of Colman, Leah (Evan) Olson of Madison, and Wesley (Kristen) Bouska of LaCrosse, Wis.; 14 great-grandchildren: Roy, Franklin, George and Grace Bouska, Dan Benson, Raine, Ash, and Elliot Wienbar, Brielle, Barrett, Blaire, Everlea, and Conrad Schaefer, and Lily Olson; one brother, Merlyn Gilbertson; and two sisters-in-law, Carole Gilbertson and Delda Gilbertson.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Roy; parents, Sam and Margrete Gilbertson; and a brother Leonard Gilbertson.
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