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Life Legacy
Lister Desylvia Donley
Brookings, SD
Lister Desylvia Donley, known to us all as Grandpa, 85, passed away on Wednesday, January 9, 2008, at his home in Brookings under the loving care of his family.
Lister, the son of Delmar Desylvia Donley and Helen Marie (Power) Donley was born on August 10, 1922, at his family homestead in Western Holmes County, Ohio. He attended and graduated from Finneys Country School. When he was old enough to enter the timber be began skidding logs with horses for Patterson Lumber and when old enough to drive he began driving and operating oil drilling rigs. On December 21st, 1966, he married the love of his life, Helen Ruth Johnson. In 1970, the couple moved to Flandreau, SD where he began farming and working with dairy cattle. One morning while checking cattle he fell off the back of a snowmobile and was lost in a blizzard. Later that evening he entered the farm house half froze and from that time has been retired. Lister had a love for all animals and he especially enjoyed working with and training horses. He was often seen on country roads with a horse and cart or in the field with a horse and implement. He had a love for the soil and enjoyed gardening and was known for his large garden where school children would come to pick pumpkins. In 1997, Lister and his wife Helen moved to Brookings into what they called their little dream house. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, reading, watching westerns, talking with friends, spending time with relatives, his children and grandchildren and being with his wife of 41 years.
Grateful for having shared his life are his wife Helen of Brookings; their sons Harvey (Melissa) Donley of Estelline, SD, John Wayne Donley; their daughter Linda (Tony) Mortenson of Brookings, SD; their grandchildren Christian, Austin, Troy and Coby Donley of Estelline; one brother Lloyd (Linda) Donley of Brookings; one sister Laverla (Don) Phillips of Sioux Falls, SD; two sons from his previous marriage, Leslie Donley and Charles Donley both of Ohio; and two daughters Donna Jean Donley of Texas, and Thelma Donley of Ohio.
Lister was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers Clarence (Clara) Donley of Ohio, Leland Donley of Ohio and one son Denver Donley of Ohio.
Funeral Service: 10:30am, Saturday, January 12, 2008
Rudes Funeral Home Brookings, SD
Rev. Pam Fitzgerald, Officiating
Visitation: 9am Saturday, until time of service
Rudes Funeral Home
Interment: Greenwood Cemetery
Brookings, SD
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Born: August 10, 1922
Death: January 9, 2008
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This memorial provided by:
Rude's Funeral Home
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