Memorial services for Donna Peterson, 80, of Neligh were Wednesday, Sept. 30, at the Antelope County Fair Building in Neligh. Burial was in Laurel Hill Cemetery in Neligh. Beyer Snider Memorial Funeral Home in Neligh handled arrangements.

Donna died Sept. 21 at Antelope Memorial Hospital in Neligh, with her family by her side. Condolences may be directed to the family at http://www.beyersnidermemorialfh.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to the family in her name.

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Donna Maurine (Damme) Peterson was born July 1, 1940, in Clearwater to John Lessly and Nina Viola (Lee) Damme. She grew up in Clearwater and graduated from Clearwater High School with the class of 1958. She earned her teaching degree at Wayne State College in Wayne. For 11 years, she taught school in several rural schools and one year in Clearwater. She was loved by her former students who always made a point to talk to her when she saw them.

On July 1, 1961, she married Terry Peterson at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Neligh. Years later, her two daughters would also marry in that same church. Terry and Donna lived in Clearwater for four years before moving to their farm northeast of Neligh where they raised their four children: Lisa, Sonya, Scott and Travis.

After teaching, and then staying home with her children and helping with their custom farming operation, Donna took a job at Neligh Insurance and Reality, where she worked for many years. Donna was a member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ at Neligh, where she served several terms on the deaconate board and was a member of the women's fellowship. She was a longtime member of the women's bowling association and the Neligh-Oakdale High School Booster Club.

Donna loved country music concerts and attending all activities her kids where a part of, as well as traveling many miles to watch her grandchildren play sports and other activities. Donna was so kind and was always concerned for others. She was a faithful card mailer for any occasion and was the first one at your house if you had fallen on hard times. We all loved her giving heart. Donna had many friends in the Neligh, Clearwater, and Elgin areas. She enjoyed her morning coffee with "the girls" at the Neligh cafe for breakfast.

In 2012, while on vacation in Texas, Donna suffered a traumatic brain bleed. Doctors gave her a 1% chance of surviving the operation. Terry assured his kids he would be bringing her home and, after 71 days in the hospital in Texas and three weeks at Madonna rehab hospital in Lincoln, he did just that. The next nine years were a gift and we never took them for granted. Roles were reversed, but Terry took amazing care of Donna and his children are forever grateful for following the vows he took 59 years before. He loved and cherished our mom through sickness and health until her last day.

Donna's greatest love was spending time with her family and, in July 2020, they all celebrated her 80th birthday at the Black Hills in South Dakota. The family spent three wonderful days telling stories, laughing and enjoying great meals. Donna had fun watching all the grandkids and great-grandkids and had some very in-depth conversations and giggle sessions with baby Willa.

Donna is preceded in death by her grandparents, parents Les and Nina; sister, Shirley Stelling; granddaughter, Paige Leslie Schultz; parents-in-law, Harold and Margaret (Detlefsen) Peterson; sisters-in-law Marie Damme, Ellen Heermann, Sharron Mickelson, Jeanette Hansen and Jeanette Peterson; brothers-in-law, Jack Kallhoff, Ron Peterson, Darryl Peterson, Lee Peterson, Lynn Peterson, Barry Peterson and Dean Peterson and many relatives she loved so much.

Donna is survived by her husband of 59 years, Terry Peterson; daughters, Lisa (Tom) Chohon of Ainsworth and Sonya (Ted) Schultz of Wood River; sons, Scott of Brookings, South Dakota and Travis (Kara) of Elko, Minnesota; 11 grandchildren: Clay Chohon of Lincoln, Hayes Chohon of Mitchell, South Dakota, Shelby (Judd) Allan of Alda, Carson Schultz of Wood River, Kyle Schultz of Kearney, Tyson, Reid (Morgan), Gunner and Keller Peterson of Brookings, South Dakota, and Caid and Brynn Peterson of Elko Minnesota;great-grandchildren: Kaysen, Tate and Willa Allan of Alda, Addison Svennes of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and baby Peterson due early 2021. She is also survived by her brother, John Damme of Clearwater; her sister, Bonnie Kallhoff of O'Neill; brothers-in-law, Arnold Stelling of Yankton, SD, Allen (Gisela) Peterson of Hayden Lake, Idaho and Loren Hansen of Plainview; sisters-in-law, Louise Peterson of Oceanside, California, RaeJeane Peterson of Neligh and Ida Peterson of Omaha, and many cousins, nieces, nephews and dear friends.