Donna Mae Anderson

Donna Mae Anderson, 82, of Eagle Butte went home to be with the Lord on June 13, 2022. Donna Mae endured her lengthy illness with grace and bravery. She was a symbol of strength. She is known for her neverending dedication to her religion and to her family.

Donna Mae was born on May 15, 1940 at the Mobridge Hospital to Eleanore Babe (Austin) and Sylvester Garreau. Donna Mae is the granddaughter of Jennie Walks First Woman (Tokeyamniiwin), survivor of the Wounded Knee Massacre, and William Garreau, and maternal grandparents, Jacob and Nora (O’Leary) Austin. She spent the early years of her life travelling with her parents to various Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) sites around the reservation, where her dad was a heavy equipment operator. After the attack on Pearl Harbor all CCC work ceased, and the family started ranching 13 miles south of Timber Lake.

Donna Mae would spend her young life on the ranch and enjoyed riding horses and all that ranch life had to offer. She attended a country school, Madsen School, three miles from her home, from first through the seventh grade. Beginning in the eighth grade until she graduated from high school, she attended Stephan Mission Boarding School on the Crow Creek Reservation. She made many friends at Stephan, and many stayed in touch and remained friends throughout their lives.

In the fall of 1958 Donna Mae met her lifelong companion and husband, Larry Anderson. They were married on December 30, 1958 and began their life together. They were partners in ranching and in raising their family for the next 63 years. Donna Mae worked for the Cheyenne River School System as a nurse’s aide and enjoyed her time there. She was devoted to All Saints Catholic Church and served on the Altar Society for many years.

Together, she and Larry raised six children, each one being special to them. She was a devoted wife and mother and took pride in her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.

She is survived by her husband, Larry, and their children, Marty (Lorelei) Anderson, Dawn (Bruce) Parker, Terry Anderson, Lonnie Anderson, Jim (Sherry) Anderson, and Sherrie (Jeff) Ward; grandchildren, Shari, Keith, Lindsay, Cole, Justin, Pam, Jayce, Rardy, Brittany, Terri Jo, Gabe, Ashley, Hannah, Myah, Macey, and Decker; eighteen great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Frieda Hunter of Spokane, WA and Monica Schmidt of Rapid City; and a special cousin, Delila Keller of Timber Lake.

She was predeceased by her parents; her in-laws, Art and Rose Anderson; and her special grandson, Austin Anderson.

Services for Donna Mae were held at All Saints Catholic Church in Eagle Butte on Tuesday, June 21, 2022. She was laid to rest at the Eagle Butte Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge.

(Larry Anderson’s address is Box 574, Eagle Butte, SD 57625.)