Donna Mae Gakin, 77, of Redfield, SD died Friday, October 05, 2012 at Avera St. Lukes Hospital in Aberdeen, SD. Her funeral will be Monday, October 8, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. at Thelen Funeral Home in Redfield. Reverend Tim Fugman will officiate. After a time for fellowship and lunch, at Leo's CafAC. in Redfield, the burial will be in the Mobridge City Cemetery at 4:00 p.m. Visitation will be Sunday from 4-8:00 p.m. at Thelen Funeral Home. www.thelenfuneralhome.com

Donna was born February 20, 1935 in Mobridge to Alfred and Lendena (Beyerle) Skillingstad. She grew up on the family farm near Tolstoy. She moved to Mobridge in the early 1960's and worked at the cafAC. for several years. Donna married George Gakin on August 16, 1967. They lived in Washington state and later Timberlake, Mobridge and Glenham. After George died in 1974, she moved back to Mobridge before moving to Redfield in 1978. She worked at Hawkeye Ink at the Academy in Redfield until 2001.

She enjoyed whittling, crocheting and sewing.

Donna is survived by her daughter Gloria Gakin of Redfield and her children: Daryl, Tate and Sophia; and her son Clyde Gakin of Redfield and his children: Kristina and Chanice and one great grandson Bryer. She is also survived by her brothers: Lennie (Ila) Skillingstad of Sundance, WY; and Arlie (Verleen) Skillingstad of Selby and her sister Fern (Lyle) Dickhaut of Mobridge.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband George and her twin brother Morris.