Doris Payne
MADISON - Doris Elizabeth Donnelly Payne, age 96, passed away at Bethel Lutheran Home on July 27, 2024.
Doris, along with her twin sister Lois, was born in Stratford, Ontario, Canada on May 16, 1928 to Rev. Walter E. and Edith (Van Velzer) Donnelly. The family moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1935 where she grew to adulthood.
Doris graduated from the Winnipeg General Hospital School of Nursing in 1949. In 1950, Doris moved to Madison, South Dakota where she had accepted employment as a Registered Nurse at the Madison Community Hospital (now Madison Regional Health System). That same year, she met Bob Payne on a blind date and on February 17, 1951 they were married in the Methodist United Church in Pipestone, Minnesota.
Doris and Bob were blessed with two daughters, Judy and Patty, who learned wonderful life lessons from them in a home filled with love.
Doris continued working at the Madison Hospital until 1972 when she went to work for the South Dakota Department of Health surveying hospitals and nursing homes until retiring in 1989.
Mourning her passing are her daughters, Judy Payne (Dennis Doerr) and Patty (Bob) Vanhove; her four grandchildren, Jennifer (Tom) Greco, Michelle (Jay) Hojer, Rob (Sheryl) Vanhove, and Elizabeth (John) Molstad; her four step-grandchildren, Julie (Tim) Farley, Jill Irvin (Stephen Magoon), Jeri (Kerry) Pottorff, and Joan (Dan) Westphalen; her eight great-grandchildren, Thomas Greco, Emily Greco, Ben Greco, Jacob Hojer (fiancée Mackenzie Burgin), Taylor Hojer, Caden Hojer, Jackson Molstad, and Hannah Molstad; and beloved nieces and nephews and their spouses. Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband, Bob, brother Burton Donnelly, and sisters Vera Grey, Nora Worth, and her twin Lois Gongos.
Visitation with the family will begin Wednesday, July 31 at 10:00am at Rustand-Weiland Funeral Chapel in Madison with a memorial service to follow at 11:00am with Rev. Steve Lindley officiating. Inurnment will be in Graceland Cemetery. Online guestbook is at www.rustandweilandfuneral. com.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to a charity of your choice or to Bethel Lutheran Home Foundation, 1001 S. Egan Avenue, Madison, SD 57042