Donna B. Kooistra

April 21, 1932 - January 23, 2018

Donna B. (Olds) Kooistra, 85, of Rapid City, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 23, 2018 surrounded by her family at home. Donna was born on April 21, 1932 in Elmira to Carl and Virgie (Shoup) Olds. She grew up in Elmira on her family’s farm. She graduated from Alba High School. After high school she continued to help on her family’s farm, as well as working at a restaurant and babysitting for her cousins. Donna met her husband Kornelius at a dance. After dating for a few years, they got married on September 23, 1960. They moved to Rapid City in 1962 where they raised their family. Donna enjoyed gardening in her huge garden and did a lot of canning. She passed on her joy of gardening to her children and grandchildren and now to her great grandchildren. She also enjoyed her flower gardens, where she would make bouquets for her family and friends, graduations, showers and weddings. She loved taking pictures and always had a camera handy. She also liked to crochet, knit and sew. She made many afghans, scarves, clothes, mittens and quilts. She liked bird watching, morel mushroom hunting, picking berries, cherries and apples (which she was great at) She also loved her honey bees. Donna looked forward to spring when she could start tapping trees to make syrup. Christmas was her favorite holiday. Everyone that knew Donna said she was a fantastic cook. She always had a hot meal for anyone who visited her home. She had a great sense of humor and was always ready for a good joke. Donna left so many memories. She was well loved by everyone she knew. Donna and Kornelius loved going to dances especially polkas and making homemade ice cream on a Saturday evening. It is difficult to sum up a lifetime of love, kindness, wisdom, strength, courage and endurance. She will be lovingly remembered by her children: Teresa (Chuck) Driggett, Barb Kooistra, Leroy Kooistra, and Kimberely (John) Barnes. 13 grandchildren: Sarah (Joe) Carson, Abram (Ashley Clark ) Amidon, Danny (Katie) Driggett, Jackie (Chris) Kibbe, Mary Ellen (Caul) Bluhm, Neil (Tahra) Baker, Albert Carr, Jammie (Tony) Howe, Paula (Tommy Coronado) Carr, Jessica (Ryan) Kelly, Courtney (Tommy) Tufford, Taylor and Trenton Kooistra, 25 great-grandchildren. Sisters: Cecile Woodward, Margaret Bock, Lois VonSoosten and Valeria Rushell and sister-in-law, Donna Olds. Brothers: her twin Donald (Sonja) Olds and Clinton (Yuonne) Olds. Donna was preceded in death by her husband, Kornelius, parents and brother Lloyd Olds. Visitation will take place on Sunday, January 28, 2018 from 3pm-5pm and Monday, January 29, 2018 from 12 pm to 1pm. The funeral service will begin at 1 pm at the Kalkaska Funeral Home. A luncheon will immediately follow. Officiating the service will be Pastor Steve Packer of the Peoples Church. Memorial contributions may be given to hospice or a charity of your choice. Arrangements entrusted to Kalkaska Funeral Home. And as Donna would say, “Bye, love you, and all that good stuff and hang in there.”