Madonna Pickrel

MaDonna "Donna" Pickrel, age 69. Clark, died in the Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls on Wednesday evening, November 12, 2008 after a long illness.

A memorial services, Celebration of Life, will take place on Thursday, November 20, 2008 at 7PM in the Furness Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Donna Nickels officiating.  Scattering of her cremated body will be in Montana. Per her request, no visitation will take place prior to the cremation or services.

She was born at Clark, SD on April 13, 1939, the daughter of Robert Carl and Dora (Linderman) Clyde.  She attended school at Clark and later obtained her G.E.D. For a time she worked in Watertown at St. Ann's Hospital and Memorial Hospital.

In 1956 she married Robert Pickrel.  To this union two children were born, John and Cindy.  The couple later divorced but for many years have maintained a friendship.

After the marriage, Donna continued pursuing her nursing degree and obtained her LPN degree in 1982.  She later attended Dakota Wesleyan College in 1984 and then in 1985 became a Registered Nurse.  At that time they moved to Billings, Montana where she worked at Deaconess Memorial Hospital as a cardiac nurse.  They later moved to Gillette, Wyoming where she lived and worked until 1990.  She returned at that time to Clark be to the primary caregiver for her Mother, Dora Clyde.  In 2004 she moved to Sioux Falls to be nearer medical facilities and just recently returned to Clark.

She loved spending time with the grandchildren, reading, cooking for family dinners, camping, crocheting – especially making afghans and helping with the Special Olympics. Madonna will long be remembered for her love of caring for others.

She is survived by her children, John (Michele) Pickrel and Cindy Pickrel all of Clark, 4 grandchildren, Robbie, Chad, James (Emily) and Jennifer and 2 great-grandchildren, Taylor and Madison; sisters, Coralynn Guffey of Belle Fourche, SD, Madelon LaChance of Sun City, CA and Sharon Hodgin of Huachuca City, AZ.  She also leaves sisters-in-law, Donna Clyde of Clark and Dee Clyde of Winner, SD and her children's father, Robert Pickrel of Clark.

Preceding her in death were her parents, brothers, Gilbert 'Gib' and Robert Clyde, brothers-in-law, Gurney Guffey, Ace Hodgin and Bob LaChance.