Donna M. Landsman

Donna Mae Landsman was born April 11, 1934 in Rock Rapids, Iowa, the daughter of Dr. Julius and Olive (Martin) Bishop. In 1944, she moved with her family to Sioux Falls, South Dakota and graduated from Washington High School in 1952. While working in Sioux Falls at National Reserve Life Insurance as a bookkeeper, she met Boyd Landsman from Centerville, South Dakota. On April 30, 1953, they were united in marriage and moved to a farm northeast of Centerville. They were in the cattle business with Boyd’s father and brother. They enjoyed farming 40+ years, and raised their four children, Cindy, Brenda, David and Lou Ann. In 1995, they retired from farming and moved to their lake home on Don Ja Lei Beach of Lake Benton, Minnesota. This was their “Golden Pond Retreat”, living there for 15 years until Boyd’s health failed and they moved to Danebod Village in Tyler, Minnesota in 2009. In 2014, they moved to Luverne, Minnesota as Boyd entered the Minnesota Veteran’s Home and there he passed away on December 2, 2016. They were married for 63 years. It was in August of 2021 when Donna moved to the Tuff Memorial Home in Hills, Minnesota, where on Saturday, March 30, 2024, she died at the age of 89 years, 11 months, and 19 days.

Donna came out of retirement and was employed at Work Connection in Lincoln and Lyon counties of Minnesota. She was also employed at Hartquist Funeral Home in Lake Benton until she became a cook at the Tyler Hospital and Nursing Home as well as for Danebod Village in Tyler. 

Donna enjoyed pheasant and duck hunting, fishing, golfing, snowmobiling, and traveling in their motorhome over the course of 18 years. She had a love for horses, cats, and dogs. Donna had many hobbies, but two main ones. The first one was creating over 50 items from pheasant feathers over a 65-year span. She published a book, “Feather Art” and gave classes throughout SD and MN Extension Offices, and became known as the “Feather Lady”.  The second hobby was sewing lingerie, upholstering, and tailoring. Donna learned to crochet and knit when she was four years old. She enjoyed demonstrating special recipes at Hy-Vee Cooking shows in Marshall, Minnesota. Later, she published a cookbook, “Be My Guest”. Donna attended Living Rock Church in Luverne, and was a member of First English Lutheran Church in Tyler. She received her 70-year member pin of the Order of the Eastern Star, served as Past Matron of the Ivy Chapter in Centerville and Lona Chapter in Marshall. In 1987, she was Grand Secretary of the Grand Chapter of South Dakota for five years. She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary in Centerville and Lake Benton.

Among those who survive and gratefully shared her life are her children, Cindy (Mike) Eiserman of Lake St. Louis, Missouri, Brenda (Bob) Sichmeller of Tyler, David (Lisa) Landsman of Lake Benton, and Lou Ann (Sam) Massengill of Friendsville, Tennessee; 6 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; sister, Betty Hodge of Sioux Falls; special friends, Ralph Watts, and Judy Ripley; and other family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; and in-laws, Ralph and Lillian.