Donald DeBoer

Donald DeBoer, age 83, of Milbank was called to his eternal home on May 8, 2018, at Milbank Care and Rehabilitation Center.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 11, at 10:30 a.m. at Valley Baptist Church in Milbank.  Visitation will be held on Thursday at Mundwiler Funeral Home from 5 – 8 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m.  Burial will be at the Corona Baptist Cemetery.

Donald Dean DeBoer was born on October 3, 1934, in Milbank, South Dakota.  He was the first-born child of Otto and Mabel DeBoer.  Don accepted the Lord Jesus as His Savior and was baptized at eight years of age. He graduated from Corona High School in 1952. He attended Bethel College in St. Paul, Minnesota, for one year. He married Donna Mae Schulte on September 1, 1955, and then began farming. He served on the Corona School Board and the Farmers Home Administration Board.  He farmed in both Roberts and Grant counties. He was a successful dairy man for 20 years.  In his later years, he raised hogs and beef cattle, and continued farming grain.  In his adult life, he faithfully served as a Sunday school teacher and deacon for many years at Corona Baptist and Valley Baptist churches. Don’s faith, his wife Donna, children and grandchildren were the greatest priorities in his life.

Don retired from farming in 1999, but he still operated his 9500 John Deere combine for his sons until he was 75 years old. He enjoyed going out to the farm to observe their farming operations. The ministry of prayer was vital in Don’s life.  He clearly understood the importance of the spiritual harvest in the lives of others.  Many people looked to Don for counsel, encouragement and comfort.  In an unassuming way, he gave to countless ministries and charitable organizations.  He served as a Gideon and distributed Bibles to local hotels and schools for many years. Don was known for his generosity, kindness and quiet faith. He had a deep appreciation for the riches of God’s grace in Christ Jesus, which he is now experiencing to a greater extent in the presence of His Savior.

Don is survived by his wife, Donna Mae; his children: Byron (Ginny) DeBoer, Corona, SD; Joyce (Jeff) Fluth, Emery, SD;  Loren (Betty) DeBoer, Twin Brooks, SD; Mike (Christine) DeBoer, Cottage Grove, MN; and Angela DeBoer, Cottage Grove, MN; eleven grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren; his sister, Pearl (Bruce) VanHaveren, Evergreen, CO; his brother-in-law, Dale Hebbert, Hooker, OK; his brother, Alan (Sharon) DeBoer, Pagosa Springs, CO; and his brother, Eldon (Diane) DeBoer, Sioux Falls, SD.  Don was preceded in death by his parents: Otto and Mabel DeBoer; his sister, Violet Hebbert; his brother-in-law, Larry Schulte; his son-in-law, John Schaefer; and his grandson-in-law, Robert Bruns.