Donna Larson

Donna I Larson was born on November 11, 1937 in Lemmon, SD, three minutes before her twin brother Donald.

Her parents were Ralph Cowles Baker and Lloydia Sorg. Donna attended grade school in Lemmon, her freshman year in Buffalo and Graduated from Bison High School in 1957. During her high school years she worked at the Bison Theater and Bison Café.

After graduating she move to Hamilton Montana to live with her sister & brother in law Berniece & Albert Kolb, she worked at the Hamilton Drug Store. Duane went to Montana and brought the love of his life back to Bison. Duane & Donna were united in marriage on June 15, 1958. The first four years of their marriage Donna and Duane lived on a farm known as “Settle Homestead”. They moved to the Harry Larson homestead in 1962. She Loved working beside her husband learning to drive tractor and enjoying working the land, especially summer fallowing.

Duane & Donna Loved their time spent together making so many friends at home and across the state with the American Legion & Auxiliary, she served as State Chaplain. To this union four children were born Cindy, Deanna, Joel & Noel. Donna’s Precious Duane passed on April 5, 1985, leaving a huge hole in her heart. She continued living on the farm until 1993 than moved to Bison.

Her Love for her 9 Grandchildren, Wade, Randy, Angela, Ted, Megan, Duane, Tyler, Bethany, Drew was so Special! When her first great grandchild was born she said, you are Grandma and I will be called Nana.

Nana’s great grandchildren Ray, Braden, Colt, Zoey, Riley, Cayson, Maverick, Stormy, Bentley, Aalaya, Baylee, Amelia, Vivienne, Emmett, Emilee, Benny! Mom Loved when they came to her house many hours spent playing Yahtzee, and just hanging around. Each of them were an important part of her life, she called you her Pride & Joy.

Donna loved kids and started babysitting, she treated them all like her own, she enjoyed styling their hair before parents picked them back up, taking them for wagon rides, playing in the park and they all loved the treats she always had for them.

Donna enjoyed her diet coke and coffee, she so Loved having coffee guests at her house, we know she is still having coffee with many friends that passed before her.

Donna was a member of the American Lutheran Church, she served many years teaching Sunday school and Bible School.

Donna was diagnosed with Dementia in 2019 moving to Rapid City in assisted living than memory care units. She went dancing with her Beloved Duane on July 26, 2024, she had waited 39 years for them to be reunited again.

We have so many Amazing memories with mom, especially her cooking, Chicken & Dumplings, Oyster Stew, Tea rings, and Rice Krispie Easter Baskets. She gave us one last gift on Sunday was she was alert laughing, talking and called each of us there by our names, as she hasn’t known us for awhile.

In her Bible she had listed her Favorite Verse & Songs Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose

Songs: Mansion Over the Hilltop and Beyond the Sunset

Survivors include her children Cindy(Willis) Kopren Prairie City, Deanna(Ardel)Reder Prairie City, Joel(Theo) Larson Bison, Noel(Ronele) Larson Hermosa. Her grandchildren & great grandchildren! Her

Siblings: Berniece Kolb, Spokane, WA, Stella Watson, Rapid City, SD; Donald (Charlene) Baker Pacific, Washington, Laverne (Alice) Baker Aberdeen, SD. Sisters & Brother in Laws Darlyne Kopren Sturgis, SD,

Dolores (Juell) Chapman Scottsbluff, NB, Vanna Tracy Rapid City, SD, Venita (Bob) Starkey Savage, MT, Janine (Jerome) Hanson Moorhead, MN. As well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins & a host of friends.

Donna was preceded in death by her husband Duane, her great grandson Ray, her parents, siblings Derald, Thelma, Merle, Eldon.

We are honoring Moms wishes to have No funeral and private burial with kids, grandkids & great grandkids. Fly High Mom Until we are all together again!

Her memorial will be given to the Bison Cemetery & Bison American Lutheran Church.