Donna Gelhaus

Donna Gelhaus, 69, of Webster, SD passed away on Tuesday, October 19, 2021, at Sanford Hospital in Webster. Funeral Services will be 10:00 A.M. on Monday, October 25, 2021 at the United Methodist Church in Webster and will be livestreamed on Fiksdal Funeral Service Facebook page. Burial will be at the Webster Cemetery near Webster. Luncheon will follow burial at the United Methodist Church. Visitation will be Sunday, October 24, 2021 from 4-7 P.M. at Fiksdal Funeral Service and will close with a prayer service at 7 P.M. Donna was born at Peabody Memorial Hospital in Webster, SD, on May 23, 1952, to Raymond and Alice (Herzog) Osterhoff. She was the seventh of nine children. Donna attended Webster Public School from elementary school through Jr. high and high school. She married Herbert Gelhaus on September 17, 1969, at the Webster United Methodist Church. They had recently celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary. From their union, Donna and Herb were blessed with three daughters: Charlotte, Cheryl, and Christine. Throughout her life, Donna loved being active in her church and community. While the girls were growing up, she was a housewife and stay at home mom. Donna taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. She enjoyed cooking and had made meals every week for 46 years for the Webster Kiwanis Club. She served her final meal the day before she passed away. Donna was an active member of the Webster United Methodist Church. She served on several church committees over the years, was a member of the Altar Guild, United Methodist Women, Circle, and a communion steward. She routinely made the communion bread and set up for church services. Donna was also the church janitor for 20 years. Later, she drove the Community Transit Bus and delivered Meals on Wheels for the Webster community. Donna loved being busy and was always on the move, especially on the farm, with her pets, gardening, canning, and baking. She was an avid Webster Area Bearcat sports fan. Above all, Donna cherished spending time with her family. She enjoyed attending all their sporting events and being their biggest cheerleader. Her favorite thing was to have everyone home for the holidays. Donna is survived by her husband, Herb, daughters Charlotte (Mike) Carda of Huron, SD, Cheryl (Mike) McCreary of Webster, SD, and Christine (Eric) Townsend of Milbank, SD. Grandchildren Emily (Troy) Forbush, Brandon (Megan Bordewyk) Carda, Jobi (David Weidler) McCreary, Evan, Jaiden, and Jeron McCreary, and Zayda and Bree Townsend. Great-grandchildren Delaney, Quincey, and Wesley Forbush. Her siblings Rosie Gilmour, Dale Osterhoff, and Jewell Osterhoff, and several nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, foster parents Marlin and Verna Schmidt, sisters Betty and Elaine, and brothers Michael, James, and Ricky.