Donna Gerdes

Donna Gerdes, age 88, of Ralston, passed away on Sunday, February 9, 2025, surrounded by her family at St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll. Private family services will be held soon.
Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home and online condolences may be left for Donna's family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Donna Ray, daughter of Lowell and Nellie LaVerne (Cochran) Brown, was born October 9, 1936, on the family farm north of Scranton. At 18 months of age, Donna went to live with her grandparents Roy and Effie Cochran near Churdan and this remained her childhood home until she finished school. She attended County school #9 and graduated from Churdan High School in 1955.
On June 16, 1957, Donna was united in marriage with LaVerne Gerdes at Trinity Lutheran Church in Jefferson. Eight children were born to this union. Donna and LaVerne lived in the Glidden area for 40 plus years. For 25 years, she owned LaDo Ceramics. Donna was a skilled quilter and often pieced and machine quilted for many ladies and Peace Lutheran Church in Glidden. She never retired because she wanted to keep her hands busy.
Donna was a member of Scranton Friends Church as a little girl, Trinity Lutheran Church in Jefferson and Glidden Peace Lutheran Church.
Donna is survived by her children: Linus Gerdes of Ralston; Duane (Ayako) Gerdes of Springfield, Georgia; Randy Gerdes of Springfield, Georgia; Michelle (David) Snyder of Glidden; Sharon Hanson of Elk Grove, California; Pamela (Mark) Rensink of Sioux Center, Iowa; Eugene (Angie) Gerdes of Fairfield, California; and Mitchell (Heather) Gerdes of Overland Park, Kansas; 20 grandchildren: 18 great-grandchildren; and two sisters: Ramona Johnson of Florida and Marcella 'Sally' Van Horn of Arizona.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband LaVerne; a baby brother Merlin Dale Brown; and five sisters: Velma Henning, Roberta Noyes, Mardell Shipley, Karen Brown and Doneta Linquist.