Donna Lee Koopman, age 72, of Colton, South Dakota, passed away Friday, October 25, 2013, at Sanford Heritage Foundation Hospice Cottage in Sioux Falls. Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 PM Monday October 28, at First Lutheran Church in Colton, with a scripture service at 7:00 PM. On Tuesday, October 29 the burial will take place at 9:30 AM, at West Nidaros Lutheran Cemetery, rural Crooks; all are welcome. The Memorial worship will follow the burial at 11:00 AM, at First Lutheran Church in Colton.
Donna was born on October 29, 1940, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to Leonard and Gladys (Sorenson) Langloss. She grew up in Crooks. Donna was baptized and confirmed at West Nidaros Lutheran Church. She attended grade school in Crooks and graduated from Lyons High School in 1958. Following high school, Donna attended community college in Mankato.
On August 14, 1959, Donna married Donald Koopman at West Nidaros Lutheran Church. They lived for a short time in Sioux Falls until moving to Colton in 1960. Soon after that in 1967 Don and Donna moved to the farm where they’ve enjoyed their last 46 years while raising their family.
Donna was employed as a postal clerk for many years, having worked in Colton, Madison, Sioux Falls, Dell Rapids, and Colman. After retirement, she spent much of her time taking care of her grandchildren, baking birthday cakes, spending time with her children and grandchildren at various campgrounds, traveling and spending time with the love of her life, Don.
Donna was an active member of First Lutheran Church in Colton where she was involved in the quilting group and WELCA. She also was a 4-H Leader for many years and volunteered at the Sioux Empire Fair. She enjoyed playing cards in the Card Club with very close friends and family as well as being an active member in the Birthday Club in Colton.
Her favorite past time was spending time with family and attending their grandchildren’s many church and school activities. In 2012, Don and Donna were selected to receive the Tri–Valley Butch Bachman “Fan of the Year” award.
Grateful for having shared her life is her husband Don of 54 years and her children: Kim (Randall) Questad of Baltic, Kari (Kevin) VanderWal of Volga, Dan (Stacey) Koopman of Hartford. She was blessed with nine Grandchildren: Katie (Kevin) Hoekman, Sarah (Justin) Jenness, Jared Questad, Dallis, Collin, and Lane VanderWal; Ashlyn, Logan, and Brayden Koopman. Two Great Grandchildren: Anna and Peter Hoekman. Other family members grateful for sharing her journey include brothers: James (Lila) Langloss of Sioux Falls, Marv (Elaine) Wieman of Crooks, and two special aunts: Alyce Scott of Sioux Falls, and Connie Opland of Dell Rapids, family friend Deb Swier, and many other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; in-laws Garrit and Helen Koopman, and brother in-law and sister-in-law, John and Barb Koopman.