Donald Earl McMillan 1931 - 2018

MCMILLAN, HELMA

Posted By: Connie Swearingen -Volunteer (email)
Date: 11/12/2018 at 09:46:02

Sioux City Journal
19 October 2018

Sioux City

Donald Earl McMillan, 87, of Sioux City, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018, at a local hospital after a brief illness.

Memorial services will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Mater Dei Parish-Immaculate Conception Center, with the Rev. Daniel Rupp as Celebrant. Visitation with the family will be 9 a.m. until service time Saturday at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel. Online condolences may be directed to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Donald McMillan was born on July 30, 1931, to Vaughn and Nancy Emily McMillan, in Colome, S.D. He grew up in Chamberlain, S.D., and graduated from high school in 1949. He attended Southern State Teacher's College in Springfield, S.D., where he met his wife, Dolores Helma of Kimball, S.D.

They were married on Aug. 19, 1952, before Don left to serve in the Korean War. He was stationed at the Far East Air Force headquarters in Tokyo, Japan and was later stationed at Andrews Air Force Base outside of Washington, D.C.

Don and Dolores moved to Springfield, S.D. in 1955, where Don finished his education and began teaching at the college in the electronics program. He later received his masters degree in mathematics and physics from USD. Don taught in Springfield until 1984 when they moved to Marshall, Minn., where he taught industrial electronic technology at Southwest State University, retiring in 1995. In November 2015, they moved to Sioux City to be closer to their daughter. Dolores passed away in March 2016.

Don and Dolores ran D & D Crafts for many years, selling their crafts at local shows. He was a longtime member of the American Legion Post 132 in Springfield. He loved to research genealogy, collect and polish rocks, create frets and woodwork, and raise flowers. He served on the board of directors at the Marshall Senior Center, and taught computer classes to senior members, as well as serving as an instructor for AARP 55 Alive driving courses.

Survivors include one son, George McMillan of Lincoln, Neb.; two daughters, Nancy (Kirk) Flammang of Lawton, Iowa, and Mary (Ed) Gettinger of Ray, Minn.; grandchildren, Lisa (Kyan) Heck of Chanhassen, Minn., Laura (Matthew) Benson of Lawton, Jennifer (Adam) Weaver of Ankeny, Iowa, Donny Gettinger of Minneapolis, and Katie Gettinger of St. Louis, Mo.; and great-grandchildren, Braden and Kyli Heck, Wesley and Lilly Benson, and Callen Weaver.

Don was preceded in death by his wife, Dolores; his parents; sisters, Gladys Ripper and Waneta Speed; four siblings who died shortly after birth; and brother-in-law, Leonard Helma.