Donna Jeanne Fjelstad died Feb 3, 2011.
She was born in Clark Sep 15, 1938, to George and Averil (Beller) Moeller. As a child she lived in Presho, Wagner and Watertown, graduating from high school in 1956. She received a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Northern State University in 1960 and a master's degree in school administration from the University of SD, in 1975. A teacher in the Pierre Schools for 19 years, she later became an administrator in the SD Department of Education and assistant state superintendent.
She acted and directed theater productions. As co-owner of the comedy team, Oahe Transit and RiverBridge Theater, she and her partner Don Boyd, performed throughout the upper Midwest. She was a founding member of Pierre Players and was also a motivational speaker.
She married Charles Fjelstad in 1960 and they had three children. They moved to Pierre where she made her home for the remainder of her life. She was instrumental in starting IMPROV, an alcohol and drug prevention program for adolescents, in 1985. She coached and mentored many ‘Odyssey of the Mind' teams, served on the boards of the Right Turn Career Learning Center, Capital Area Counseling Services, Capital Area Counseling Board of Trustees, Pierre Players, Short Grass Arts Council, Pierre Education Foundation and Church of Hope Prison Ministry. She was a hospice volunteer and trainer.
She served as president of the board of the Black Hills Playhouse and South Dakotans for the Arts. She served as a governor appointee to the SD Arts Council. She was named Outstanding Woman Educator by the SD Women in Educational Leadership and was honored as a Governor's Outstanding Volunteer in the Arts. She was named Outstanding Volunteer by the Pierre Area Charitable Organizations and received the Release the Spirit Within award at the Arctic Winter Games in Kenai, Alaska. She was honored with the Outstanding Support of the Arts by an Individual at the state Governor's Arts Awards. She was also recognized by the Pierre Chamber of Commerce with the annual Pierre Pride award that same year. In 2010 she ran as a Democratic candidate for District 24 in the South Dakota state senate race.
She was preceded in death by her husband.
Survivors include her children, Linda (Kent) Schumacher of Pierre, Max (Kate) Fjelstad of Ninilchik, Alaska and Mary (Kato) Buss of Eugene, OR; four grandchildren; and her sisters, Kathleen Currey of Pierre and Janet (Doug) Stam of Blaine, MN.
She was born in Clark Sep 15, 1938, to George and Averil (Beller) Moeller. As a child she lived in Presho, Wagner and Watertown, graduating from high school in 1956. She received a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Northern State University in 1960 and a master's degree in school administration from the University of SD, in 1975. A teacher in the Pierre Schools for 19 years, she later became an administrator in the SD Department of Education and assistant state superintendent.
She acted and directed theater productions. As co-owner of the comedy team, Oahe Transit and RiverBridge Theater, she and her partner Don Boyd, performed throughout the upper Midwest. She was a founding member of Pierre Players and was also a motivational speaker.
She married Charles Fjelstad in 1960 and they had three children. They moved to Pierre where she made her home for the remainder of her life. She was instrumental in starting IMPROV, an alcohol and drug prevention program for adolescents, in 1985. She coached and mentored many ‘Odyssey of the Mind' teams, served on the boards of the Right Turn Career Learning Center, Capital Area Counseling Services, Capital Area Counseling Board of Trustees, Pierre Players, Short Grass Arts Council, Pierre Education Foundation and Church of Hope Prison Ministry. She was a hospice volunteer and trainer.
She served as president of the board of the Black Hills Playhouse and South Dakotans for the Arts. She served as a governor appointee to the SD Arts Council. She was named Outstanding Woman Educator by the SD Women in Educational Leadership and was honored as a Governor's Outstanding Volunteer in the Arts. She was named Outstanding Volunteer by the Pierre Area Charitable Organizations and received the Release the Spirit Within award at the Arctic Winter Games in Kenai, Alaska. She was honored with the Outstanding Support of the Arts by an Individual at the state Governor's Arts Awards. She was also recognized by the Pierre Chamber of Commerce with the annual Pierre Pride award that same year. In 2010 she ran as a Democratic candidate for District 24 in the South Dakota state senate race.
She was preceded in death by her husband.
Survivors include her children, Linda (Kent) Schumacher of Pierre, Max (Kate) Fjelstad of Ninilchik, Alaska and Mary (Kato) Buss of Eugene, OR; four grandchildren; and her sisters, Kathleen Currey of Pierre and Janet (Doug) Stam of Blaine, MN.
Donna Jeanne Fjelstad died Feb 3, 2011.
She was born in Clark Sep 15, 1938, to George and Averil (Beller) Moeller. As a child she lived in Presho, Wagner and Watertown, graduating from high school in 1956. She received a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Northern State University in 1960 and a master's degree in school administration from the University of SD, in 1975. A teacher in the Pierre Schools for 19 years, she later became an administrator in the SD Department of Education and assistant state superintendent.
She acted and directed theater productions. As co-owner of the comedy team, Oahe Transit and RiverBridge Theater, she and her partner Don Boyd, performed throughout the upper Midwest. She was a founding member of Pierre Players and was also a motivational speaker.
She married Charles Fjelstad in 1960 and they had three children. They moved to Pierre where she made her home for the remainder of her life. She was instrumental in starting IMPROV, an alcohol and drug prevention program for adolescents, in 1985. She coached and mentored many ‘Odyssey of the Mind' teams, served on the boards of the Right Turn Career Learning Center, Capital Area Counseling Services, Capital Area Counseling Board of Trustees, Pierre Players, Short Grass Arts Council, Pierre Education Foundation and Church of Hope Prison Ministry. She was a hospice volunteer and trainer.
She served as president of the board of the Black Hills Playhouse and South Dakotans for the Arts. She served as a governor appointee to the SD Arts Council. She was named Outstanding Woman Educator by the SD Women in Educational Leadership and was honored as a Governor's Outstanding Volunteer in the Arts. She was named Outstanding Volunteer by the Pierre Area Charitable Organizations and received the Release the Spirit Within award at the Arctic Winter Games in Kenai, Alaska. She was honored with the Outstanding Support of the Arts by an Individual at the state Governor's Arts Awards. She was also recognized by the Pierre Chamber of Commerce with the annual Pierre Pride award that same year. In 2010 she ran as a Democratic candidate for District 24 in the South Dakota state senate race.
She was preceded in death by her husband.
Survivors include her children, Linda (Kent) Schumacher of Pierre, Max (Kate) Fjelstad of Ninilchik, Alaska and Mary (Kato) Buss of Eugene, OR; four grandchildren; and her sisters, Kathleen Currey of Pierre and Janet (Doug) Stam of Blaine, MN.
She was born in Clark Sep 15, 1938, to George and Averil (Beller) Moeller. As a child she lived in Presho, Wagner and Watertown, graduating from high school in 1956. She received a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Northern State University in 1960 and a master's degree in school administration from the University of SD, in 1975. A teacher in the Pierre Schools for 19 years, she later became an administrator in the SD Department of Education and assistant state superintendent.
She acted and directed theater productions. As co-owner of the comedy team, Oahe Transit and RiverBridge Theater, she and her partner Don Boyd, performed throughout the upper Midwest. She was a founding member of Pierre Players and was also a motivational speaker.
She married Charles Fjelstad in 1960 and they had three children. They moved to Pierre where she made her home for the remainder of her life. She was instrumental in starting IMPROV, an alcohol and drug prevention program for adolescents, in 1985. She coached and mentored many ‘Odyssey of the Mind' teams, served on the boards of the Right Turn Career Learning Center, Capital Area Counseling Services, Capital Area Counseling Board of Trustees, Pierre Players, Short Grass Arts Council, Pierre Education Foundation and Church of Hope Prison Ministry. She was a hospice volunteer and trainer.
She served as president of the board of the Black Hills Playhouse and South Dakotans for the Arts. She served as a governor appointee to the SD Arts Council. She was named Outstanding Woman Educator by the SD Women in Educational Leadership and was honored as a Governor's Outstanding Volunteer in the Arts. She was named Outstanding Volunteer by the Pierre Area Charitable Organizations and received the Release the Spirit Within award at the Arctic Winter Games in Kenai, Alaska. She was honored with the Outstanding Support of the Arts by an Individual at the state Governor's Arts Awards. She was also recognized by the Pierre Chamber of Commerce with the annual Pierre Pride award that same year. In 2010 she ran as a Democratic candidate for District 24 in the South Dakota state senate race.
She was preceded in death by her husband.
Survivors include her children, Linda (Kent) Schumacher of Pierre, Max (Kate) Fjelstad of Ninilchik, Alaska and Mary (Kato) Buss of Eugene, OR; four grandchildren; and her sisters, Kathleen Currey of Pierre and Janet (Doug) Stam of Blaine, MN.
Gravesite Details
It has been reported to me (by contributor Beth Bailey) that she is not with her husband at Black Hills National Cemetery.
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