Mae Ann Donovan (née Loecker)

Mae Ann Donovan, 95, was born on January 30, 1929, in Menominee, Nebraska, peacefully departed this life on April 29, 2024.

A funeral mass was held on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, St James Catholic Church, Chamberlain, SD with burial in the Riverview Cemetery at Chamberlain.

Visitation was held , Monday May 6, 2024, at St James Catholic Church, Chamberlain, SD, followed by a Rosary/Scripture Service.

She was the daughter of John and Anne Loecker.

Born and raised on the family farm in Cedar County, Nebraska with her two brothers. She attended elementary school in her hometown and graduated from Mount Marty Academy in Yankton, South Dakota.

Following her graduation, Mae worked as a secretary and bookkeeper. Mae married Richard (Dick) E Donovan on May 2, 1950, at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Menominee, Nebraska.

Mae and Dick’s journey together started on the plains of South Dakota, where they dedicated nearly a decade to ranching in Miller before Dick transitioned to the auction business. They nurtured their growing family as they traversed South Dakota, living in Orient, Mitchell, and lastly Chamberlain.

While Mae’s primary role was that of a homemaker, she also lent her talents as a clerk and bookkeeper, supporting Dick’s auction business in the sale barns of Mitchell and Chamberlain.

A woman of unwavering faith, Mae found solace and purpose in her active involvement with the Catholic Church community. She generously shared her time and talents, teaching CCD classes, participating in the St. James Altar Society, and advocating for Brule County Right to Life. Alongside Dick, she embraced the principles of support and recovery as active members of AA and Al-Anon, offering hope and guidance to those in need.

Mae’s creative spirit found expression in her passion for painting, sewing clothes, quilting, embroidering gifts and the creation of memory and genealogy scrapbooks for each child and grandchild.

She also enjoyed traveling to visit family and friends, which included several international trips.

She particularly loved socializing with friends and family around the card and game table.

Mae is preceded in death by her husband, Dick, her 2 brothers Leander (Sylvia), Darold and daughter-inlaw Vicki Donovan. She is survived by sister-inlaw Geri Loecker and her eleven children: Tom Donovan (Powell, Wy), Pam Frichtl (Chamberlain, SD), Rod Donovan (Laurie – Middlesex, NJ), Randy Donovan (Toni – Winner, SD), Clair Donovan (Jackie Jermolenko – Spearfish, SD), Mary Beth Church (Tony – Denver, CO), Theresa O’Grady (Peter -Cadillac, MI), Renee Cortright (Rick – Troy, MI), John Donovan (Amy – Chamberlain, SD), Chris Donovan (Sonya - Spearfish, SD), and Tony Donovan (Mindy - Chamberlain, SD).

Additionally, Mae leaves behind 32 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild.

This large family is Mae and Dick’s legacy.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to: South Dakota Right to Life (https://give.cornerstone. cc/sdrighttolife/ ) or Presentation Sisters, Aberdeen, SD (https://www. presentationsisters.org/ partner-with-us/donatenow/ ) or Chamberlain Chapter of Al-Anon, direct in Mae’s name to Wells Fargo Bank, 201 S Main, Chamberlain, SD, 57325.

Rest peacefully, dear Mae, mother, mom, grandma, great-grandma and friend.