Bennette, Donna Mae 1935-2016

BENNETTE, KNUDSEN, TAYLOR

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, Volunteer (email)
Date: 9/6/2016 at 19:39:13

Donna Bennette, 81, of Le Mars, died Friday, Aug. 19, 2016 at Bergan Mercy Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska.

Donna Mae Taylor was born on March 1, 1935 in Kingsley, to George and Thelma (Knudsen) Taylor. She grew up on her family's farm in rural Plymouth County, and attended school at Le Mars Community Schools. After her education, she continued to live on the farm and help her family.

She began a letter correspondence with Rivola Bennette who was serving in the United States Navy. They wrote back and forth for almost a year before they became engaged. They were united in marriage on Jan. 1, 1954 at the Methodist Church in Merrill, while Rivola took a short leave from the Navy.

He returned to his station in Newport, Rhode Island and Donna joined him there several months later. They made their home in Newport for a short time and after Rivola was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1957, they moved to Seattle, Washington. After Seattle, they moved around the country living in: rural Merrill; Denver, Colorado; and Crescent, Dixon, Le Claire and Davenport in Iowa. They lived in Davenport for many years, raising their family there.

Donna was primarily a homemaker, but she did work for a short time at a women's clothing store and also did party sales for several different companies. When Rivola retired, Donna and Rivola moved to Climbing Hill for a short time before finally settling in Le Mars.

Donna enjoyed her arts and crafts, especially crocheting and embroidering. She had a fascination for lighthouses and collected all different types of light house memorabilia. She was considered to be the "neighborhood mom," and always enjoyed opening her home to her children's friends and other children in the neighborhood.

Donna is survived by her husband of over 62 years, Rivola Bennette; children: Dennis Bennette of Davenport, Janet (Robert) Hicks of Calamus, Iowa, and Terrie (Randy) Mock of Colorado; grandchildren: Leroy, Sarah, Melissa, Jason, Miranda, and Vanessa; 14 great-grandchildren; and many other nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

Donna is preceded in death by her parents; sons: Daniel Rivola Bennette and Gary Wayne Bennette; and great grandson, Andrew.

A funeral service will be at 11 a.m., Wednesday at Rexwinkel-Carlsen Funeral Home in Le Mars. Pastor James Strickland from the Church of the Nazarene in Le Mars will be officiating. Visitation with the family present will be from 9:30 a.m. until the start of the service at the funeral home. Burial will be at Resthaven Memory Gardens in rural Le Mars.

Source: LeMars Daily Sentinel, Monday, August 22, 2016