Donna Rae Petersen

Funeral services for Donna Rae Petersen, 67, of Ridgeview were held Thursday, November 19, 2020 at Kesling Funeral Home in Mobridge with inurnment at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery in Ridgeview at a later date under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. Donna passed away Thursday, November 12, 2020 at Sanford Medical Center in Sioux Falls.

Donna Rae Thompson (Oyate Wacinyapi Win- ‘Woman Who Leads Her People’) was born on April 10, 1953 to Germaine White Eyes and John Thompson. She was born on a cold rainy day at her Grandmother Christine White Eyes home on the banks of the Moreau River. Donna Rae was named after her mother’s good friend Donna (Zetsmen) Wakendorlf. She carried the Thompson name until her mother and father, Cecil Means were unified in marriage in 1958. At which time Donna and her sister Connie (Bug) carried the Means name. Donna was raised for 2 years by her Uncle Joe, Aunt Aldena High Bear, Aunt Janice, JoHanna, and Great Grandmother Rose in Laplant, while her mother attended college in Brookings.

Donna Rae was raised in Armstrong County most of her life on the family ranch with her mother, father, and all her brothers and sisters. This is where she learned to care for others, ranch, rodeo, work, and most all of love. Donna Rae was the oldest of the seven Means siblings followed by Connie, Galen, Cecil II (CJ), Richard (Bucky), Carmen, and Shawn. She also had two other sister’s Lynelle and Jonni Thompson. Donna Rae was not only their sister, but also like their mother. She was always very happy to know that no matter the miles between her and her siblings, they all remained very close.

She attended Dupree School from K-1 and continued her education at the Cheyenne Eagle Butte School, graduating in 1972. In the summer of 1971 she was able to serve the Tribe as a youth ambassador as an exchange student in the Philippine Islands. She culminated several years of education at the South Dakota State University, Black Hills State University, and Cheyenne River Community College/Northern State University. She obtained an Associates of Arts Degree in General Studies and Political Science and continued on to earn her Baccalaureate Degree of Science in Community Services and Political Science. In the Fall of 1989, she went to the Northern State University campus and completed her Baccalaureate Degree all while raising her family, ranching, and working. Her highest achievement was earning her Master of Arts Degree in Lakota Leadership and Management from the Oglala Lakota College at the age of 65.

Donna Rae married her high school sweetheart James ’Jim’ Petersen on February 16, 1974 and from this union they had three children Michael Todd, Luke Arthur, and Amalia (Molly) Marie. She also has one hunka son Art Sakakihara- Chavaria. Donna Rae was blessed with 15 grandchildren. She had great pride and pleasure of helping raise and watch her grandchildren grow. Her family was always her number one accomplishment, even though she had many in her life.

She kept her life very busy with family, agriculture, Tribal, Federal, and State government work, educating, administrator, and community leader. Donna Rae held many hats, such as; Tribal Land Clerk, Tribal Director of Land and Natural Resources, Tribal Liaison, Tribal Grant Writer, Credit Office Technician, Indian Community Development Grant Writer, Executive Director of Planning and Development, VP of Institutional Development, and for the last 14.5 years before retiring she served her Tribe as the CRST- Cultural Programs Administrator. Donna Rae was also an educator at University of South Dakota and Northwest Area School-Adult Education. Once upon a time she was the Secretary/Treasurer of the Great Plains Indian Rodeo Association and was a timer at the Indian National Finals Rodeo. In 1971-1972 Donna Rae was the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Fair Queen. Rodeo was always a big part of her life.

Donna Rae had great pride in her Catholic and Lakota faith. She was a pipe carrier for many years and a Eucharistic Minister. She was a big promoter to bring back catholic masses in Ridgeview and was eager to help others along the way to find their own faith and beliefs. Even as busy as Donna’s life has been raising children, going to school, and working she loved to dance any chance she could. And boy, could her and Jim cut a rug! Even battling through the pain, she endured daily from her fibromyalgia, she could muscle through a few quick moves.

Donna Rae is survived by her husband James ‘Jim’ Petersen, mother-in-law Patricia Petersen, sons- Michael (Jenessa) of Ridgeview, Luke (Dreemis) of Dupree, and daughter Molly (Dakota) Longbrake of Dupree, grandchildren Payne Petersen-Davis, Clay, Riley, Cedar, Wynter, Chancey, Trinity, Laniah, Lawson, Levin, & Lowen Petersen, and MacKenzie, Jazmyn, Kemper, & Kip Longbrake, her siblings Connie, Galen, CJ, Bucky, Carmen, and Shawn. Also her many nieces, nephews, and cousins as well as many friends who have held a special place in her heart as family.

She was preceded in death by her parents Germaine and Cecil Means, father-in-Law Leslie Petersen, brother Johnny Delaine, hunka parents Joe and Aldena High Bear, and several uncles, aunts, cousins, and friends.