Donn Bassett, age 88, of Wilmot died on May 2, 2018, at the Wilmot Care Center. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May... Donn Bassett

Donn Bassett, age 88, of Wilmot died on May 2, 2018, at the Wilmot Care Center.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 5, 2018, at 2:00 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Wilmot. Jerry Lutkemeier will officiate and burial will be in the Wilmot City Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Friday, 5 – 7 pm at the church and will continue on Saturday, one hour prior to the service.

Donn Albert Bassett was born on December 28, 1929, on the family farm in Lake Township, Roberts County, SD. He was the son of Kenneth and Mable (Hustad) Bassett. Donn attended rural school at Lake #3 until the family purchased a farm in Lee Township in 1938. He completed his eighth grade education at Lee #1 School. He started high school in Wilmot but dropped out to help his father with the farming. Donn was a baptized and confirmed member of First Presbyterian Church in Wilmot.

On June 14, 1952, Donn was united in marriage with Shirley Hove of Peever, SD at Peever Lutheran Church. Donn and Shirley lived in a trailer house on his parent’s farm. They purchased their own farm in Lee Township in 1955. Donn and Shirley lived there until Donn entered the Wilmot Care Center in 2013.

Donn farmed all his life except for a couple of years. He hauled gravel for Otto Barlund, worked for Harry Pierce in his service station, and did wiring for REA with Gordon Webster. Donn served on a number of boards including Wilmot Creamery, Wilmot Equity-Co-op, DHIA, Northeast Vo-Tech, and Roberts County Extension. He was a 4-H leader for many years and a Lee Township supervisor.

Donn loved horses! He rarely missed a horse sale and went on many trail rides. He enjoyed rodeos and helped organize the Wilmot Ranch Rodeo. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was an avid reader, enjoyed bird watching, and music. Donn and Shirley attended the Cowboy Poetry Gathering at Medora, ND, and the jamborees at Peever and Wilmot.

Donn loved his family and was extremely proud of his children and grandchildren. He enjoyed them to the fullest!

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 65 years, Shirley of Wilmot, SD; children: Kurt and Susan (Leemhuis) Bassett of Volga, SD; Rhonda and Doug Martenson of Sisseton, SD; Scott and Pastor Cheryl (Rondeau) Bassett of Wilmot, SD; and Todd and Cheryl (Aadland) Bassett of Wilmot, SD; 15 grandchildren 15 great-grandchildren (four more on the way); one great-great-grandchild; brother, Dean (Vera) Bassett of Rapid City, SD; sister, Sue (DeLane) Dollinger of Venturia, ND; niece, Cheri (Darryl) Meidinger of Prior Lake, MN; brothers-in-law: Earl (Mary) Hove of Tracy, CA, and Bruce Harris of Brookings, SD; as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents; son-in-law, Daniel Rice; grandson, Joseph Rondeau; parents-in-law: Herman and Iva Hove; and sister-in-law, Lavina Harris.

Mundwiler Funeral Home

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