Donna Lucille (Hatzenbeller) Grote Mehlhaff

Click here to view Donna's Liturgical Wake Service.

Click here to view Donna's Mass of Christian Burial.

Donna Lucille (Hatzenbeller) Grote Mehlhaff, 80, of Aberdeen, passed away Sunday, August 4, 2019, at her home, following a short battle with pancreatic cancer.

Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, August 7, 2019, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 409 2nd Avenue NE, Aberdeen, with Father Michael Griffin as celebrant.

Burial will take place at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Aberdeen.

Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements.  

Closed-casket visitation will be 4-7 p.m., Tuesday, at the mortuary, with a liturgical wake service, led by Donna’s step-son, Deacon Pete Mehlhaff, and rosary, led by Nancy Tiffany, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Visitation continues one hour before Mass at the church on Wednesday.

Family and friends may sign Donna’s online guestbook and also view her service via the live stream service link at www.schriversmemorial.com.

In lieu of flowers, Donna’s family prefers donations to: The Aberdeen Catholic Foundation – Roncalli Student Tuition Assistance Fund.

Donna Lucille Hatzenbeller, daughter of Mike and Agnes (Hoffart) Hatzenbeller was born in Aberdeen, SD on April 29, 1939. She attended St. Mary’s Parochial School through 8th grade and graduated from Mount Marty in Yankton, SD in 1959.

Donna married James R. Grote on June 19, 1965, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Aberdeen.  The couple then moved to California, where they resided for 31 years. While living in California, Donna worked at Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center in Downey, CA for 27 years.  She retired in 1993, and she and Jim moved back to Aberdeen. Donna and Jim shared 32 years of marriage before he passed away on September 27, 1997.  Donna continued to live in Aberdeen, where she worked for the Aberdeen School District until 2002, and also worked at the Visitors Center and at Storybook Land.

Donna was united in marriage to Dean O. Mehlhaff on August 24, 2002, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Aberdeen.  Donna and Dean loved travelling the world and enjoyed many cruises together.  They shared over 13 years of marriage before he passed away on April 27, 2016.  Donna continued to make Aberdeen her home until the time of her death.        

Donna was faithful to her Lord and attended Mass daily. She was also very active in her church, serving on various committees at St. Mary’s.  Donna especially loved working in the pickle room during the church bazaar.  She also served as a volunteer at Mother Joseph Manor for many years.

Blessed to have shared in Donna’s life are her sisters: Darlene (Don) Grote and Pat (Steve) Darling, both of Aberdeen, and Michelle (Rod) Card of Escondido, CA; her brothers, Michael (Nancy) Hatzenbeller and Brian (Judy) Hatzenbeller, both of Aberdeen; as well as many nieces, nephews, step-children, step-grandchildren, and step-great-grandchildren.

Donna was preceded in death by her parents, Mike and Agnes Hatzenbeller; both husbands, Jim Grote and Dean O. Mehlhaff; and brother-in-law, Don Grote.    

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