Donna Stanton | October 11, 1929 - May 11, 2023
Obituaries-Pierre / Posted May 15, 2023 | 6:12 AM / 483 views
Donna Stanton, 93, of Pierre, SD passed away Thursday, May 11, 2023 at Avera Saint Mary’s Hospital in Pierre. Visitation will be from 4:30 to 5:30pm, with a Rosary beginning at 5:30pm on Monday, May 15th at Isburg Funeral Chapel. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 9:00am on Tuesday, May 16th at St. John’s Catholic Church in Fort Pierre, SD, burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Bonesteel, SD.
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Donna was the daughter of Henry and Agnes (Warkne) Perlenfein. She was born in Bonesteel, SD, on October 11, 1929.
Donna attended Bonesteel Public School, graduating in 1947. Because of the teacher shortage, high school graduates were allowed to attend a summer session of college to earn a two-year teaching certificate. Donna attended a summer session 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. 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.
By 1959, there was still a shortage of teachers; Donna was offered a teaching position at the Leonard School near Lucas, SD, providing 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 mini-storage 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 life style 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, which is an independent senior living facility. She enjoyed the activities there, and made many new friends while she was there.
Donna had many hobbies. She knitted, crocheted, and did 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 game, and earned her pin and ribbon!
She leaves to mourn her passing, her daughter, Linda, and her husband Randy Jirsa, her two sons, Steven and Kelly and his wife Nancy, 5 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren, and 2 great great grandsons.
