Donna M. Crane, formerly of Gettysburg, Presho, and Pierre, South Dakota, passed away June 3, 2013 in Spearfish, South Dakota.
Donna Mae Spicer, only child of Albert and Miriam Spicer, was born in Gettysburg, South Dakota on March 13, 1930.
A graduate of Gettysburg High School, she spent most of her young life in South Dakota with the exception of several years spent in the Portland, Oregon area during World War II when her father worked in the shipyards of that area.
After graduation she married Sherman L. Crane in July of 1948. They became the parents of three girls, Donna Rae, Rebecca, and Jennifer.
In 1967 the family moved to Presho, SD where Sherman became a partner in Anderson Gas. They later moved to Pierre and Donna worked in a dental office before starting her career at Delta Dental of South Dakota.
After Donna retired from Delta Dental she spent the rest of her life enjoying a variety of activities. She loved art and music, was an accomplished painter and photographer. She was a member of Canvasbacks and served on the Shortgrass Arts Council. Dance Club and spending time with friends were other favorite pastimes. She was a devoted volunteer of the Hospice Thrift Store and enjoyed volunteer time sitting with the Capitol Christmas trees.
Donna also loved traveling. She traveled with friend Pearl Boe to visit the New York City area. When daughter Donna Rae lived in Portland she visited and had a great time touring the areas she remembered from her time there in World War II. Her last big trip was to Hawaii where she spent time with grandson Nickolas and his family.
Her last years were spent in assisted living, most recently at Burr's Tender Care in Spearfish. The great staff at Burr's always made sure she got the best of care.
After breaking her hip in a fall in April she moved to the Dorsett Care Center in Spearfish. Although recovering from the hip fracture, she passed away on June 3, 2013 from the effects of a variety of long-term health issues.
She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her grandson Jeffrey.
Survivors include her daughters Donna Rae and her husband Tim, Rebecca, and Jennifer; grandchildren Laura, Nickolas, Dana, Heather, Tara and Matthew. Great grandchildren Samantha, Isabella, Nathaniel, Lillie and Brooklyn also survive her.
She lived a busy active life. She was a great bowler, loved to golf and was always willing to take a trip to Deadwood to drop a few nickels.
Memorial services will be held at 2p.m.CST, Tuesday, June 25, 2013 at Isburg Funeral Chapel in Pierre, SD. Family inurnment will be at the Gettysburg Cemetery.