Donna Stanton

Mass of Christian burial for Donna Stanton was held at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Fort Pierre, SD.

Burial was is the St. Mary’s Cemetery in Bonesteel, SD. Isburg Funeral Chapel of Pierre, SD, was in charge of arrangements.

Donna was born in Bonesteel, SD, on October 11, 1929, to Henry and Agnes (Warkne) Perlenfein. Donna attended Bonesteel Public School, graduating in 1947. She attended a summer session of college to earn a two-year teaching certificate and began teaching that fall. She was united in marriage to Saylor Stanton on April 25, 1949. Saylor was stationed at Hamilton Field Air Force Base near San Francisco, CA. Donna joined him when the school year ended.

After Saylor was discharged from the Air Force, they moved to Yuba City, CA.

In 1952, they relocated to Herrick, SD, where Saylor owned and operated a service station.

In 1959, Donna was offered a teaching position at the Leonard School near Lucas, SD, provided she would attend extension classes and summer classes at Southern State Teacher’s College. After nine long years of attending these classes, she was awarded her bachelor’s degree in education.

After Donna had earned her degree, they decided to move back to California. Donna found employment at the Nuestro School near Live Oak, CA. She remained at that school for the next 20 years.

When Donna retired from teaching, she and Saylor managed ministorage in Yuba City, CA, for two years before moving to Brownsville, CA, where they had built a home. Donna loved the tall timbers and the climate there. She thought they would remain there always, until they visited Saylor’s sister, Joyce, and her husband George Jones in Sun City West, AZ. They liked the lifestyle of the retirement community and decided to move to Arizona.

Ten years later, Donna and Saylor decided they wanted to be closer to family, so they moved to Pierre, SD, where their son Steve and daughter Linda and family lived. They built a house in the Grey Goose area near Pierre., where they lived until Saylor was no longer able to care for their two and a half acres.

They then moved to an apartment in Pierre. After Saylor’s death, Donna moved to Parkwood, an independent senior living facility. She enjoyed the activities there, and made many new friends while she was there.

Donna had many hobbies which included knitting, crocheting, and other needle work. While in Arizona, she learned the art of rosemaling and painted anything she could put a brush to. Donna joined a bowling team while in Sun City West, and accomplished her goal, when she finally bowled a 500 series, earning a pin and ribbon.

Donna Stanton, 93, of Pierre, SD, passed away Thursday, May 11, 2023 at Avera Saint Mary’s Hospital in Pierre.

She is survived by her daughter Linda and husband Randy Jirsa; her two sons Steven, and Kelly and wife Nancy; five grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandsons.