Donna M. Benson, 81, of Sioux Falls, SD formerly of Flandreau, SD passed away Saturday, November 16, 2019 at Southridge Healthcare, Sioux Falls.
Donna Mae was born October 21, 1938 in Sioux Falls, SD to James and Lucille (Patton) Lee. She graduated from Washington High School in 1957 and attended Nettleton Business College in Sioux Falls. Donna worked for a bank and then Consumer Co-op Association both in Sioux Falls. Donna met Leroy Benson while working in Sioux Falls and they were married August 18, 1962 at Sioux Falls. While Leroy was going to school, they lived in Ft. Collins, CO and Lincoln, NE. They then pursued job opportunities in the Twin Cities, Sioux Falls, and Norfolk, NE. They moved to a farm south of Flandreau in 1973 where they lived until January 2013. They retired to Sioux Falls and due to Donna’s health issues she spent the last two years in skilled care units in Flandreau and Sioux Falls. She was a member of Ss. Simon and Jude Catholic Church, Flandreau, St. Lambert’s Catholic Church, Sioux Falls, Catholic Daughters, Christian Women, and the Red Hat Ladies. Donna enjoyed crafts, sewing, shopping, reading, cooking, and playing bridge. She loved going to her children and grandchildren’s activities, hosting holidays, being with friends and family, and going on trips.
Donna is survived by her husband Leroy; three children, Terry (Betty), Fargo, ND; Tammy (Ryan) Bailey, Brandon, SD and Travis (Kelly), Sioux Falls; 13 grandchildren: Joshua (Katie) Benson; Jacob (Alison) Benson; Jordon, Joseph, and Jessica Benson; Kelsi, Kyle, and Kassidi Bailey; Rylee, Sydney, Clare, Emeric, and Dominic Benson; seven great-grandchildren: Trey, Ellary, Cora, Brekken, Avery, Gavin, and Arya Benson; her sister: Nancy Sprague, Milwaukee, WI; her brother: James (Carol) Lee, Sioux Falls; and sister-in-law: Janet Benson, Grand Island, NE.
Donna was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers-in-law, Jerry Sprague and Eldon Benson.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 am Wednesday, November 20, 2019 at St. Lambert’s Catholic Church, Sioux Falls, with burial in Oslo Cemetery, Trent, SD. Visitation is 5:00 – 7:00 pm Tuesday at Skroch Funeral Chapel, Flandreau, with a 7:00 pm Wake Service. www.skrochfc.com
