Donelda M. Vanderhule, age 94, of Yankton passed away on Friday, January 6, 2010 at Avera Sister James Care Center, Yankton after a brief battle with cancer. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM, Tuesday, January 10, 2012, at the United Church of Christ-Congregational, Yankton, with Dr. Richard Jensen officiating. Burial will be in the Yankton City Cemetery. Visitations will be from 4-7 PM, Monday, January 9, 2012, at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home & Crematory, Yankton. Visitations will resume one hour prior to the service at the church. Pallbearers will be Jim Brown, Grant VanDerhule, Jeff VanDerhule, Eric Schuster, Heath Becker and Chris Haeuszer.
Affectionately known as Deedo to her grandchildren and Donnie to her friends, Donelda was born July 29, 1917 to Ethel & Russel Helm in Yankton.
She met the love of her life, Milford VanDerhule, at Yankton High School and they were married, July 11, 1937. They made their home and raised their family in Yankton. Together they owned and operated VanDerhule Moving & Storage Company for 37 years.
Donelda and Milford were charter members of Hillcrest Country Club. She was a past Worthy Matron and 50-year member of Eastern Star, member of Questers, and Yankton Women's Club, and an avid bridge player. She and Milford were active members of their community and enthusiastic supporters of Yankton.
Baptized and confirmed in the First Lutheran Church of Yankton, SD, Donelda joined the United Church of Christ-Congregational after marriage where she taught Sunday school and served many years as a member of the UCC Women's Fellowship.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Milford, and brother, Richard Helm.
Beloved matriarch of her extended family, Donelda is survived by her children, Vernon "Skip" (Judy) VanDerhule, Yankton, SD, Ross (Brooke) VanDerhule, Sioux Falls, SD, and Jane (Gordon) Brown, Yankton, SD; eight grandchildren: Katherine (Eric) Schuster, Chicago, IL; Jim (Tara) Brown, Sioux Falls, SD; Emily VanDerhule, Yankton, SD; Polly (Scott) Kemmeries, Denver, CO; Grant VanDerhule, Brookings, SD; Carianne (Heath) Becker, Sioux Falls, SD; Sandi (Chris) Haeuszer, Sioux Falls, SD; and Jeff (Carrie) VanDerhule, Denver, CO; eight great-grandchildren: Noah, Jazmine, and Chloe Brown, Zach and Lucy Kemmeries, Alice and Eddie Becker, and Walker Haeuszer; cousin, Steve Nelson, Pierre, and nieces Kay James and Liann (Richard) Schoenberger, all of Yankton.
The family requests that memorials be directed to Avera Sacred Heart Hospice 501 Summit, Yankton, SD 57078 or the Sack Pack Program PO Box 7038 Yankton, SD 57078.
