Donna Kay Menke, the daughter of Ivan and Lola (VanMatre) Hesman, was born May 4, 1945, in Roseland, Neb. She died March 2, 2021, at her home in Nelson, Neb. at the age of 75 years, 9 months, 26 days.

Donna attended country school near Pauline through the eighth grade, and graduated from Blue Hill High School in 1963. After graduating, she worked for Delta Airline for three and half years taking reservations in Chicago and Los Angeles. She was united in marriage to James Menke on Aug. 23, 1967 at Lawrence, Neb., while Jim was still in the Army. For a year or so they lived in Alexandria, V...