Donna Taylor
Dates
January 30, 1928 - February 6, 2025Obituary
Donna Jo Taylor, 97, of Mitchell, SD, died Thursday, February 6, 2025, at Avera Queen of Peace Hospital in Mitchell. Funeral services will be at 3:00 PM Saturday, February 22, at Bittner Funeral Chapel with visitation one hour prior to the funeral service. Burial will be at a later date in Servicemen’s Memorial Cemetery in Mitchell alongside her beloved husband.
Donna Jo “Babe” Hochevar was born January 30, 1928, in Pueblo, CO to Frank and Frances (Klintz) Hochevar. Donna spoke Slovenian in her home until she started school. She learned English as her second language and graduated from Pueblo’s Central High School in 1946. She was proud of her heritage, as are her children, and she was close to all of her parents’ families.
On November 18, 1950, Donna married Timmy Lee Taylor. Donna and Tim made their home in Pueblo, CO for most of their lives. During her working career, Donna was employed by Colorado Fuel and Iron (CF&I) and later at Minnequa Works Credit Union as a bookkeeper.
In 1982, with the help of her aunt, Daniella (Donna) Klintz, she relearned her first language and she, Aunt Donna, and her youngest daughter (Kathy) visited relatives near Ljubljana, Slovenia. Her greatest accomplishment alongside her husband was successfully raising three children and enjoying their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Donna enjoyed bowling, playing bridge and cribbage, camping and fishing with Tim and other friends and family. In 2004, Tim and Donna moved to Mitchell, SD to be closer to family. Donna loved all things baseball and saw many games in person at several ballparks across the country. Later in life, she watched any game she could find on TV, and was a Minnesota Twins and Colorado Rockies fan and a lifelong Denver Broncos supporter.
Donna is survived by her three children, Karen Mills of Benton, AR, Ken (Terri) Taylor of Mitchell, SD, and Kathy Taylor of Denver, CO; seven grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Tim, and her parents.
In lieu of flowers, please direct memorials to Avera Queen of Peace Hospital or the charity of your choice.
Visitation(s)
Saturday, February 22, 2025
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Bittner Funeral Chapel
805 W Havens Ave
Mitchell, SD 57301
Service
Saturday, February 22, 2025
3:00 PM
Bittner Funeral Chapel
805 W Havens Ave
Mitchell, SD 57301
Cemetery
Servicemen's Memorial CemeteryMitchell, SD
Babe was an avid Rockies fan. One day she and Tim drove from Pueblo to my parents’ house in Westminster so that Babe could go to the game. She had an extra ticket and I had never been to a live game so she offered the ticket to me.
We got in her little Honda Accord and headed down to the game. I remember thinking that Babe was a bit of an aggressive driver. I cringed as she hugged the bumpers of the cars in front of us and speedily came to a halt barely missing their rear ends when we stopped at a light. I told myself that this woman has been driving a lot longer than I have and she obviously knows what she is doing.
We got to the parking lot of the stadium. Babe quickly got out of the car and started walking at lightning speed toward the gate. I was thirty years younger than Babe and in pretty good condition. Even so, I had a hard time keeping up with her as she speedily zigzagged her way through the crowd.
We quickly arrived at our seats where Babe pulled out her earbuds and radio. She would listen to the game on the radio while she watched it live. There was no time for chit chat.
Shortly after the game started, dark clouds began to roll in, we could feel sprinkles of rain, and then came the thunder and lightning. I remember looking over at Babe to see what her reaction would be and she glanced back at me with a look on her face that said, “What’s wrong?” I got the message loud and clear. We might get struck down by lightning, but we would be watching the game from our high place in the stands, rain or shine. Luckily, the sun came out a mere few minutes later and the weather remained pleasant for the rest of the game.
Perhaps this is a glimmer into Babe’s secret for a long life. She was a woman on a mission that day and there was no pause for concern that anything would get in her way. She was out to enjoy a ballgame, and enjoy it she did.
I imagine this is how Babe approached life. She was out to enjoy it, and enjoy it she did.
I will miss Cousin Donna as much as you all will. Donna and I talked for hours on the phone.I really was sad when Donna told me her and Tim were moving from Pueblo.to South Dakota.I will miss our long talks we had over the phone. My dad was a brother to Donna's dad (Frank).Donna will be Missed.
I send my condolences to all the family.Donma is in Heave with the Angels and the Hochevar Family.RIP Donna
Death is swallowed up in victory through what Jesus did on the cross. Her entire family say through tears, we love you Donna. “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”