Mary Donovan

A funeral mass for Mary Donovan was held on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. at the St. Isidore Catholic Church in Colome, SD, with Father Zane Pekron, celebrant. Lector was Todd Shippy, altar server was Aiden Schroeder, and Carol King was in charge of registration. Music was provided by Cindy Sealey, organist. Casket bearers were Glenn Sealey, Ferman Harter, Casey Harter, Ray Neyens, Craig Stenson, and Dave Duffy. Interment was in the Colome City Cemetery in Colome, SD. Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Mary Marjorie (Gibson) Donovan was born to J. Cletus and Marjorie Barbara (Fisher) Gibson on January 7, 1956 in Guthrie Center, IA. Mary grew up on the family farm where she enjoyed taking care of the animals including the lambs and the chickens. It was on the farm that Mary learned how to work hard and excel at all she did. This would be a character trait that she carried with her all her life.

Mary attended both grade school and high school in Guthrie Center graduating from high school in 1974. Mary had three children from her first marriage. In 1985 Mary graduated from Iowa Western Community College with an associate degree as a certified medical technician.

On March 28, 1985 she married Richard Donovan, in Glenwood, IA. They would spend the next 39 years pursuing their dreams together.

In 1986 they moved to Casa Grande, AZ, where Mary and Rich ran a flight training school and a crop-dusting business. Mary also went back to school and learned about agronomy so she could be a field consultant to the area farmers that they were spraying for. Part of Mary’s responsibilities was to flag for Rich so he could see where his next pass would be. She also worked with the farmers to see if they needed anything different from their service. When they moved to Belle Fouche, SD, Mary and Rich co managed the airport and continued to spray for the farming community. They next moved to Martin, SD for about four years and continued to enjoy their time together running their Aerial Spray business.

When Rich decided to quit flying, they packed up and moved to Rapid City and spent many years running MCS, a building materials business that supplied mostly used building material to both contractors and personal home renovators. Mary also enjoyed the antique and flea market business that they started. It was a natural way to be a part of collecting and selling the things she loved. One of Mary’s great joys was to collect cookie jars. In 2013 they moved to Colome, SD where they felt at home. They renewed their marriage vows on August 9, 2014, at St. Isidore Catholic Church. Mary continued to manage their antique business in Colome until Covid caused them to shut their doors. Mary was a member of the St. Isidore Catholic Daughters and treasurer for Colome Township for several years.

Mary’s health started to decline and she eventually moved to the Avera Rosebud Country Care Center. She passed away on November 19, 2024, at the age of 68 years.

Mary is survived by her husband Rich, of 39 years; two daughters; two grandsons; one great-granddaughter; one step daughter; one step son, six step grandchildren; two step-great-grandchildren; and her brothers, Jim (Glenda) Gibson, Ray (Rhonda) Gibson and John Gibson.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her sister Barbara Knapp; her brother Tom Gibson; and her son Zachary Fox.