Donald M. Learn

Donald Merrill Learn passed away comfortably on Thursday, October 10, 2024, at the age of 92. Memorial Services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 19, 2024, at Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in Watertown. The memorial service will be live streamed via our website.

Visitation will be at the Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Saturday starting at 9:00 a.m.

Burial will be at the Mount Hope Cemetery.

Don was born August 12, 1932, to John and Dorothy Learn in Charles City, Iowa. He grew up on the farm, creating many childhood memories with his only brother, Robert, that he loved to share with others. He met Donna Jacobson in Charles City. They were married on December 17, 1950, in the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa, built in 1864.

Don and Donna began their family in 1951, welcoming their first child Katherine Elizabeth (Gary Sherrill). Don worked several jobs during this period. He often mentioned how he had only two white shirts. Donna would clean and iron them each day, so he always had a fresh shirt to wear to work.

They moved to Minnesota, and soon after they welcomed their son, Bradley Roy. In 1960 they had their third child, Pamela Lee (Edmund Dorneman). That same year, they moved to Brookings, South Dakota, where they had their fourth child, Dale Ann (Gregory Bayda). While in Brookings, Don began his 30-year career with Spies Super Valu. Shortly after Dale’s birth, they made their final move to Watertown, South Dakota.

Don’s passion was fishing, and he took every opportunity he had to fish whether at Lake Kampeska or on the Missouri River in Pierre. He also enjoyed hunting birds and deer. He was fortunate to make the trip to Colorado several years to elk hunt with his daughter, Dale.

Don is survived by his children Kathe, Brad, Pam, and Dale; his grandchildren Chad (Mallory) Sherrill, Hillary (Mike) Pletten, Casey (Laura) Dorneman, Lindsey (Jesse Myers) Dorneman, and Kris (Lindsay) Dorneman; his great-grandchildren Kate, Gray, and Kennedy Sherrill, Jackson and Riley Pletten, Penelope Dorneman, and Bailey and Avery Dorneman; and many nieces, nephews, close friends, and family.

He was preceded in death by both parents; his brother and sister-in-law Dorothy Learn, Donna Learn; son-in-law Gary Sherrill; and granddaughter Janna Learn.

Arrangements by Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel www.crawfordosthus.com Watertown, Hayti

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