Dona Anderson

Services for Dona Anderson, 75, of Claremont will be 11:00 am, Tuesday, March 4th at the First Presbyterian Church in Groton. Rev. Terry Kenny will officiate. The service will be followed by noon lunch at the church and then burial at Groton Union Cemetery under the direction of Paetznick-Garness Funeral Chapel, Groton. www.paetznick-garness.com

Visitation will be held at the chapel from 4-8pm on Monday with a prayer service at 7:00pm. Visitation will continue at the church for one hour prior to services on Tuesday.

Dona passed away February 28, 2008 at Avera St. Lukes Hospital, Aberdeen.

Dona Mae Cooper was born to James Wesley and Margaret (Rohwer) Cooper on December 30, 1932. In 1950, she graduated from Groton High School and then attended Northern State Teachers College. She taught at the Belden school east of Groton during the 1950-1951 academic year; taught all eight grades at a rural Fredrick school from 1951-1953; taught at the Johnson school, 1953-1954; and taught music at the Huffton school. She married Richard Anderson on August 1, 1954.
Dona was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Groton. She began teaching Sunday School when she was 16 years old and continued teaching Sunday School, Bible School, and music until 2003.

Dona also served her church and the presbytery in many other roles. She was an alternate to Synod, member of the Faith Development Ministry, member of Council, Camping Committee, Media Center representative, and Vice Moderator of Presbytery. She also served as an Enabler, one of the first in the state.
Dona worked with the Young People's Theater of Aberdeen (YPTA) and became a director after several years of involvement. One of the productions she led was the play presented during the grand opening of the castle at Storybook Land.

Dona was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Cletus. She is survived by her husband, Richard Anderson, Claremont, SD; daughter and son-in-law, Vickie (Chuck) Windham, Castle Rock, CO; brothers and sisters-in-law, Dale (Helen) Cooper, Lake of the Ozarks, MO, and Glenn (Wendy) Cooper, Groton, SD. She is survived by several nieces and nephews: Mike Cooper, Overland Park, KS; Bill (Ruth) Cooper, St. Louis, MO; Bonnie Cooper, Fargo, ND; and Charles (Kelly) Cooper, Fargo, ND.

Pallbearers will be George Bishoff, Verl Cutler, Bill James, Clayton Sternhagen, Dave Trumble, and Don Wright.

The family requests that memorials be sent to the First Presbyterian Church of Groton.