Donna Lehmann

Donna Lehmann, 91, of Freeman passed away on May 21st at Oakview Terrace in Freeman. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, May 24th, at 11 am, at the Salem Mennonite Church of rural Freeman. Visitation will be from 10 am to 11 am at the church on Saturday, prior to the funeral service. Cards should be sent to: Julie Ellison                                                                                                                                                                                                                        927 Manchester St.                                                                                                                                                                                                              Cary, IL 60013

To Livestream the service click on the following link: https://www.youtube.com/@SouthChurchSD

Donna Mae (Mateer) Lehmann was born to Harry and Vera (Rounds) Mateer March 18, 1934 in Selby, SD. Her siblings included two brothers, Chuck and Curtis. She passed away peacefully surrounded by her three daughters on Wednesday, May 21, 2025 at Oakview Terrace in Freeman, SD, at the age of 91.

Donna's father worked for the South Dakota Soil Conservation Department. This job had them living in Omaha, Mitchell, Centerville, and finally Hurley. It was here at Hurley High School where Donna met her high-school sweetheart, Darlas. Something she always said was "I'd never marry a farmer!" But on March 7, 1953, they tied the knot and kept it tied for 68 years!

Darlas was soon drafted into the army and sent to Korea. During this time, Donna taught country school having had only 10 weeks of summer college at Springfield. When Darlas returned, they moved onto the home place, seven miles west of Hurley where they lived, farmed, and raised their family.

Summers held treasured moments of traveling with family and friends. Even after the children moved on with their lives, Donna and Darlas continued to do lots of traveling all over the world. They moved to Freeman in 2013 where they built a home that continued to be a treasured place for family gatherings.

Donna was a caring wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Family was the cornerstone of Donna's life. She poured her heart into motherhood, nurturing strong and independent children. Her love extended deeply to her grandchildren. Donna also loved and adored her three great grandchildren.

Celebrating her life are her daughters Julie (Jim) Ellison, Peggy (Jon) Beihoffer, Sandy (Krishnan) Moten, Clayton’s wife Angela Helmer, former daughter-in-law Erika Lehmann, grandchildren Hilary and Christian Lehmann, Ryan (Katrina) Ellison, Ashley (Johnathon) Nord, Will Beihoffer, Joshua (Sami) Moten, Samuel Moten and great grandchildren, Jack and Vada Nord, Jasmine Moten, and sister-in-law LaVonne Johnson.

Donna is preceded in death by her parents, her two brothers, husband Darlas, son Clayton, and grandsons Peter and Matthew.