Donna Ritter peacefully passed away at home on August 23, 2012 in the presence and hearts of family and friends. Services have been set for Tuesday, August 28 at 12:00pm at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, with a visitation on Monday, August 27 from 5:00-7:00pm with a brief service at 7:00pm at Eidsness Funeral Home. Donna was born in Oakes, North Dakota, on January 18, 1939, to Thomas and Nell (Farrell) Sabby, and was raised in the nearby town of Verona with her parents, her aunt Winnie, her three sisters, and other close relatives who remained nearby. She played basketball like her sisters at Verona High School where she graduated in 1957, and continued her lifelong love of learning by attending nursing school at Valley City, ND, Montana State University, and the University of Minnesota. After achieving her Masters Degree in Nursing at Montana State, she married Richard Ritter on September 3, 1966 and moved to Brookings, South Dakota, where they both worked at SDSU and raised three children. Donna was an associate professor of nursing and coordinator of the RN Upward Mobility Program, part of which involved visiting Rosebud Reservation to help tribal nurses get their degrees. Throughout her life she enjoyed travel, volunteering, gardening, and visiting family. She and her family spent many Thanksgiving and Easter holidays with family in Verona, and her three children insist that, despite the lack of technical comforts enjoyed today (like television), walking the few steps to Harvey's Corner Store for a hand picked bag of penny candy remains a favorite memory. After retirement, Donna continued to enjoy life by collecting and selling books, baking, knitting, playing mah-jongg, OLLI classes, and tracing her genealogy as far back as 1705. She had many wonderful friends who enjoyed her quiet humor and endless kindness. Donna was a valuable member of the SDSU Museum Art Guild and served as a board officer, docent, and volunteer of nearly 1000 hours. Besides being a proud member of the Art Guild, she also participated in the SD Nurses Association, Brookings County Democrats, Sigma Theta Tau, PEO, and Sons of Norway. She was best known as Grandma Donna or "GD" and brought at least a crate of craft supplies to each visit with her seven grandchildren. She treasured family events, holidays, trips to the lake, and making gingerbread houses with her grandkids. Friends say her eyes lit up whenever she talked about her family. She is survived by her three children: Erik (Angela) Ritter, Kris (Gary) Johnson, and Lisa (Rich) Borja; seven grandchildren whom she adored; and two sisters: Bonnie Christensen and Carolyn Berry. She is preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Nell Sabby; husband, Richard; sister, Grace; brothers- in-law: George Berry and Louis Christensen; nieces: Lori Ann Christensen and Laurie Berry; and many cherished aunts, uncles, and cousins.