Donna Lea Kelley

Donna Lea Kelley was born August 11, 1954, in Des Moines (DM) Iowa to Donald and Betty Hamilton. Donna received Jesus Christ into her heart as Lord and Savior when she was 9 years old, at the Evangelical Covenant Church (DM). Her Covenant Kids friends remained close to her heart for her entire life. She loved them all dearly.
Donna graduated in 1972 from Des Moines Technical High School. She also attended Moody Bible Institute in Chicago and Des Moines Area Community College. She attained her BA degree at Metropolitan State University in St. Paul, MN. Donna fulfilled a special desire of hers to be involved in Law Enforcement. She held a position at the Des Moines Police Department for a period and loved every minute of it. Eventually her love for the Lord, the Jewish Community and the State of Israel directed her to San Francisco, California of all places. She was offered a position there and enjoyed working for a ministry named "Jews for Jesus." Donna met Shirley Neel who also worked there and they remained lifelong friends with warm phone conversations, both loving the Lord. Following that, Donna moved to Minnesota to be near her young nieces and nephews. Donna first worked for St. Mary's Hospital and then joined the staff at Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA). It was there that she met the love of her life, Timothy Ralph Kelley. They were married in 2003. After the BGEA relocated to Charlotte, NC. She went on to work for and retire from Medtronic, based in Fridley Minnesota.
Everywhere she lived and worked, she made friends who she loved dearly. Donna loved her family, especially her nieces and nephews and grandkids. She loved her friends, cats, card making, her church and serving others with her generous heart. Donna is survived by her husband Tim and her beloved cat Dewey, her step children Cole (Melissa) Kelley, Glenwood IA; Roshelle Kelley, Whitebear Lake, MN; her grandchildren Adahmariyah, Zachariah, Eliana, and Catalina Kelley; her siblings: Nancy (Bill) Routt, Grimes IA; Beverly (Robert) Madsen, Albertville MN; Robert Hamilton, Grimes IA; and Tina (Donald) Britt, Des Moines IA; many nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews. She adored all the children, and they all loved her and will miss her greatly. She was preceded in death by her parents, a nephew and a great nephew.
Donna passed away peacefully at home on November 11, 2025, surrounded by friends and family. Family will greet friends from 12-1 p.m., followed by funeral service at Harvest Evangelical Free Church, Story City, Iowa on Monday, November 17 at 1 p.m. Burial will take place at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, MN at a later date.
The family invites you to a luncheon immediately following the service.
Rasmusson-Ryan Funeral Home in Nevada has been entrusted with the care of Donna and her arrangements. Condolences may be shared with the family online at www.rasmussonfh.com.