Donna Elaine Keifer

Donna Elaine Keifer was born October 25, 1932 to Carl and Mary (Taylor) Christiansen in Elkton, South Dakota. She was baptized at Midway Church in Colman, South Dakota and later confirmed at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Flandreau, South Dakota. While she was growing up she lived on farms near Elkton and Colman, and graduated from Egan (South Dakota) High School in 1951. After graduation she worked at the dime store and bakery before starting her career in banks at Farmers State Bank in Flandreau. She also worked for a time at First National Bank in Sioux Falls. On June 29, 1958 Donna married Ferd Neil Keifer at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Flandreau. Their union was blessed with three sons and 38 years of life together. The couple made their home on a farm east of Tyler, Minnesota until 1995, when they moved into Tyler. During that time Donna worked at Bremer Bank in Marshall, Minnesota, from which she retired in 1995. Ferd died in 1996, and in 1997 she went back to work, this time at Maynard’s Food Store in Tyler for 17 years, finally retiring in 2014. She moved to Danebod Village in October 2015. On September 7, 2016 she entered the care of Avera Sunrise Manor Nursing Home in Tyler where she died on Friday, October 7, 2016 at the age of 83 years.

Donna was a member of St Johns Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lake Benton, Minnesota. She had served in the life of various congregations in the Ladies Aid. She served as an adult leader when her sons were active in 4-H. She enjoyed baking, cooking, and gardening, and especially having family gatherings.

Donna is lovingly remembered by sons David (and Karen) Keifer and Randy (and Thea) Keifer, all of Tyler, Minnesota; five grandchildren, Candice VanderPlaats, Crystal Halverson, Jacqueline Cludy, Joshua Keifer, and Jordan Keifer; ten great-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ferd; a son, Dale; her parents; sisters Shirley Solsaa and Helen Benz; and brother Kenneth Christiansen.