Donna J. Pola

Donna J. Pola, 89, passed away on Saturday, March 11, 2023 at Fountain Springs Healthcare Center, Rapid City, South Dakota.

Donna was born July 11, 1933 at the family farm, rural Dell Rapids, South Dakota. She was the only child of Floyd H. and Clara (Schmidt) Budde.

Donna graduated from St. Mary High School in Dell Rapids in 1951. She then trained at Presentation College of Nursing, Aberdeen, South Dakota and graduated in 1954. Following graduation, Donna was employed as a registered nurse at McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls. Donna was united in marriage to William S. (Stan) Crain on May 31, 1957. The couple made their home in Dell Rapids until 1982 when they moved to Bismarck, North Dakota. Mr. Crain passed away in April 1983.

Donna met Richard Pola in Bismarck, and they were married on December 27, 1985 until his death in February 1990.

Donna relocated to Rapid City, South Dakota in 1996 where she was active at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, served as a facilitator for Heal Your Grief, and drove the Senior Citizens bus. She enjoyed travel and organized many family vacations. She also took trips to Ireland, England, and Italy.

Grateful to have shared her life are daughters, Paula (Brian) Grosinger of Rolla, North Dakota; Jacqueline (Don) Sargent of Austin, Texas; Monica Rizzo of Washington, D.C; and one son, Daniel Crain of Rapid City.  Donna is also survived by nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Visitation begins at 5 pm, Thursday, March 16 at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home in Rapid City and will be followed by a rosary and memorial service at 6 pm.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, June 16, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary Catholic Church, Dell Rapids. Burial will follow at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Dell Rapids.

Memorials may be directed to Story Book Island in Rapid City and St. Mary Catholic Schools in Dell Rapids, South Dakota.  Please visit the online memorial and for service updates for Donna at: www.OsheimSchmidt.com .