Donna Walter

Dates

Obituary

Donna Walter, 81, of Mitchell, SD, passed away Friday, January 31, 2025, at Firesteel Healthcare Center in Mitchell. Visitation will be Wednesday, February 5, from 5-7:00 PM at Bittner Funeral Chapel. A Celebration of Life will start at 4:00 PM Friday, February 14, at the Davison County Fairgrounds.

Our faithful momma and Dingy Grandma Donna Louise Walter went to be with Jesus in his Glorious Kingdom on January 31, 2025.

Donna was born on March 29, 1943. She always said she came into this world with a burning desire to dedicate her life to serving God and others. Her employment and volunteer history are a true testament to that claim. She cared for the mature generation at several different nursing homes. She taught special needs children in head-start. Ministered to the less fortunate on many mission trips that took her to reservations, inner cities, state hospitals, jails, prisons, and so many other places. She changed people’s lives and will be remembered everywhere she went. She said she never needed a thank you all the glory and praise needed to go to God.

She was just his disciple traveling on the journey he set out for her. Her proudest achievement was when she received her pastoral license. It was like an Atlas for her. Showing her where the Lord was leading her. She went from church to church helping build the congregations lacking in attendance. She started up Sunday school classes and Children's Church. She was much loved for the way she’d tell funny mixed-up bible stories and the kids would tell her she was wrong. Laughter followed her and gave her the proof God does have a sense of humor.

No matter if she was traveling or at home come Sunday morning she was in Church. No matter the faith of that house of God's believes, she was there on that day. Her pastor recently said her absence in their congregation has been felt.

She will be remembered most for her heavenly references. She was a prayer warrior. A major contributor to King Jesus’s tribe. She prayed for everyone. And those who knew her best will miss those blessed invocations. For when she went down on her knees one felt that that prayer would be answered fast. Her faith was a solid foundation that kept her strong in her weakest moments. She often said you don’t need to do it alone Jesus will help you; you only need to ask him. She loved music and had the voice of an angel. Her mother and she sang on the radio on Sunday mornings and later in life she sang at Blue Grass Festivals. Her favorite songs were old hymns, even if they were sung off-key and sounded horrible. She’d say the Bible says to make a joyful noise. She loved all genres of music and enjoyed it when her grandchildren shared their favorites with her.

She said it kept her young and in the loop. She loved to make bracelets and color. She’d tell anyone who would listen that she was analytical and intellectual, which meant she liked to argue and had a strong opinion on all matters of subjects and topics. She enjoyed shopping with her daughters and grandkids, along with outings with her son and his family. She liked visiting with family and friends. She was adventurous and willing to try anything, especially if it was completely outside the box. She accepted people just the way they were, and tried hard to give her children what they wanted.

She was a stick of dynamite in a tiny package. A miniature firecracker with powerful force. She was a real pistol that shot straight from the hip. She often unknowingly could offend others. But she strongly believed that the truth was one's most powerful weapon besides God. She was quite the storyteller and full of surprises. She had a quick wit and a sarcastic quirky sense of humor. She had a sense of fairness that few possess. She was strong, fierce, and protective of those she loved, and she passed those qualities onto her children whom She affectionately called her four miracles. She had seen everything as a blessing and if she couldn’t find anything good about a person or situation she would ask God to help figure it out. She was a complex puzzle that all that had the privilege of knowing her received their very own piece of her. And were all blessed she was a part of our lives.

Donna is survived by her children, Jackie Stock of Huron, SD, Betsy (Blu) Murphy of Mitchell, Warren (Jennifer) Clark of Mitchell, and Cindy McKibben and partner Kyle of Shelby, SD; 22 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, four great-great-grandchildren, one sister, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by one grandson, Benjamin Clark; mother, Dorothy Stults; a stillborn son; three sisters; two brothers; one niece and one nephew.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.

Visitation(s)