Donna Mae Bauer Hartman, 94, Sturgis, died Tuesday, March 28, 2023, at Monument Health Rapid City Hospital in Rapid City, SD.

Donna was born in Mitchell, SD, to Albert (A.J.) and Estelle (Zehnpfennig) Bauer and raised in Mitchell, graduating from Notre Dame High School.  She attended Briar Cliff College in Sioux City, IA.  She married Noel Hartman on December 2, 1950, and made their home in Sturgis welcoming their first child, Noel Jr., on November 27, 1951.  In 1953, Donna became an independent representative dealer for Stanley Home Products, Inc. for over 61 years and enjoyed taking company trips to Mexico and Hawaii with her husband, who was also a Regional Manager with Stanley.  The second son, Joel, arrived in 1957, and the third son, Alan, arrived in 1960.  She was instrumental in starting and organizing the Sturgis Little League Baseball program and became President of the Sturgis Little League in 1968.  She was presented an award "For Untiring Efforts in Promoting and Perpetuating the Sturgis Little League for 1967-1968".  She cherished having coffee and conversations on many occasions with special friends Judy and Phyllis Mailloux, and Betty White. She had a long special friendship with Father Arnold Kari.  She especially enjoyed seeing and spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.  She enjoyed sewing, crafting, chocolate, and collecting Angel figurines.  She would also enjoy reminiscing about growing up and loved to share the story of going fishing with her two brothers by walking down to the James River catching fish and not having to clean them.

Donna had an over 25-year career with the Veterans Affairs Medical Center Hospital at Ft. Meade as a Telephone Switchboard Operator in Sturgis, SD, retiring in 1998.  After retiring, she became a volunteer in the Sturgis Regional Hospital gift shop.  She was also the Treasurer and Secretary of the gift shop.  She was a member in the hospital auxiliary and Catholic Church Alter Society.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Noel; her parents; brothers, Donald and James; and sister, Jeanette (Bauer) Leopold.

She is survived by her sons, Noel, Jr (Linda) of Tecumseh, OK, Joel (Pamela) of Sturgis, SD, and Alan (Nora) of Fargo, ND; Grandchildren, Jennifer (Cody) Hill, Brandon, Kimberly (Glen) San Juan, Nicole (Tyler) Odegaard, and Garrett; and great grandchildren, Autumn Hill, Arthur San Juan, Camille, and Nash Odegaard.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established to St. Martin's Chapel, Sturgis, SD.

The service may be viewed by clicking the 'Live Stream' button at the top right of the Kinkade Website page. It will start about 10 minutes before the scheduled service time.

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