Michael Patrick Mcdonnell

Michael Patrick McDonnell, 47, of Sioux Falls, formerly of Dell Rapids, passed away Thursday, January 27, 2011.

A memorial service will begin at 3:00 PM Monday, January 31, 2011 at the Minnehaha Funeral Home Chapel in Dell Rapids.

Visitation with the family present will be from 2:00 to 6:00 PM Sunday at the funeral home.


Mike (Rat) McDonnell was born March 3, 1963 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to
Gerald and Dolores McDonnell. He attended Dell Rapids public schools, after
which he traveled extensively. He worked as a mason with Natjes Concrete,
Cleary Building, and Dells Custom Concrete. He was married to his
soul-mate, Theresa Tomes on August 7, 2010, in a unique ceremony at Baltic
River Park.

He and his wife shared an intense love of nature and spent as much time as
possible camping, hunting, fishing, and riding motorcycle. He enjoyed
spending time with his family and with his many friends. Mike especially
loved being ³Grampa Rat.² Most people that knew Mike remember him for his
elaborate practical jokes, and amazing quick wit.

He had one daughter, Bridget Ann McDonnell of Sioux Falls; four
step-children, Shane Faber of Sioux Falls, Jesse (Priscalla) Green of Sioux
Falls, Nichole (Andy Weiss) Faber of Salem, and Dustin Faber of Sioux Falls.
His grandchildren include: Kayla, Terin, Natilia, Anthony, Kyra, and Kelsey.
Mike¹s family also includes his brother, Gary (Suzie) McDonnell of Algonquin,
Illinois; sisters, Kathleen Matthew of Spearfish, Pat Park of Chester, Karen
(Ken) Rahn of Madison, Colleen (Mark) Jensen of Dell Rapids, Janine (Reed)
Hoffmann of Dell Rapids. Also mourning his loss are in-laws Kenny and Dot
Nelson, sister-in-law Laura (Ron Berg) Zapata, brother-in-laws Chris and Jim
Weinandt, and Carl (Rebecca Neuroth) Nelson, and many nieces and nephews.