Donna Masartis

Donna Masartis, age 74, of Wall, South Dakota, died on Monday, April 11, 2022 at her home near Wall. 

Many people knew some part of the life of Donna Masartis, but there was more in her 74 years, and I would like to give you a brief summary that tells how wonderful she was.

Donna Ceney was born April 9, 1948, to Jack and Dorothy Ceney, in Pittsburgh, PA. Her parents thought that girls didn't need an education, since they were only going to be mothers and housewives. But Donna took a job at the University of Pittsburgh where she began taking classes. At the university she worked for "Knowledge Availability System Center" a secret information gathering group that would become a part of NASA.

Donna married Russell Masartis at their home church, the First Primitive Methodist Church of Pittsburgh, on September 9, 1967. At that time, Russell was a student pastor, and Donna became a Pastor's Wife, and would learn so much about her position only as she worked alongside Russell in partnership.

Together they served two years at a church in Rowes Run, PA, where they helped the small congregation to grow. Transferred to Wilkes-Barre First church, Donna built up the women's group from 5 to 19, while Russell built up the men's class from 3 to 16. Again, transferred to a church in Carnegie, PA, Donna took the lead in organizing plays and musicals that resulted in a growing church. It was while pastoring in Carnegie that Russell was ordained and Donna was recognized by the denomination for her leadership skills. A split had developed in their home church, and they were asked to return and reunite the church. It took 2 years but the church family came together on outward focused mission projects, as well as developing a strong youth program. While in Pittsburgh Donna began work as the Assistant Administrator of the Angelus Nursing Home, working toward her Administrator's License. After seven years, it was time to move, and Donna and Russell accepted an appointment in Lowell, MA. Once again, Donna used her musical skills to organize musicals and dinner/plays. The church began growing as Russell and Donna introduced the GRADE program (Growth Resulting After Discipleship and Evangelism). Russell had been a Professor of Practical Ministry Skills at the denomination's School of Theology, and Donna was a mentor to many of the spouses of new pastors. This experience led to an invitation by SEND International to develop a program for training pastors in Alaska. The program was later disbanded, and Donna moved with her husband to Benton, WI, where they began serving a small 3-point circuit. Again, the congregations began to grow under their ministry, and they outgrew the church building. Purchasing the old Benton school building, while Russell oversaw repurposing the rooms for worship and Bible education, Donna oversaw the development of outreach missions – beginning a Fiber Arts Classroom, a Winter-Walkers program for those who got their exercise walking slippery streets, a Food Pantry, and then a Thrift Shop. The Thrift Shop was so successful that the profits paid for the entire year's utility bills, which was for a 16 classroom, cafeteria, and full-sized gymnasium. Again, an invitation was given to Donna and Russell to take over the directorship of Tree of Life Relief Agency on the Rosebud Lakota Reservation. Russell handled the construction aspect, but Donna dove into her roll as financial officer, and then adding outreach to increase the number of Volunteers In Mission taking the yearly budget from $150,000 to almost $500,000. Donna then opened a Thrift Shop, a Hot Meal Program (which sometimes fed 300 people a day), and a Food Pantry (that received and distributed over 1,000,000 pounds of groceries each year).

In 2015 Donna and Russell retired and went to live in their home in the city of Wood, SD. But the District Superintendent had other ideas, and asked Russell to pastor the Wall and Wasta United Methodist churches. Donna decided to stay retired and enjoy a simpler lifestyle. However, when she was diagnosed with Chronic MML, she began working on a new ministry of encouraging cancer patients with monthly notes and gifts. This "Open Hearts Care" ministry occupied the last 8 months of her life.

Donna Masartis was kind and generous, and even when the CMML transformed into AML and brought great pain, she remained a lady; thanking the staff who cared for her, praising them in notes sent to the Mayo Clinic Administration, and succeeding in remaining gentle in manner to everyone around her, even when the pain was severe.

Donna was a wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and was known as "The Godmother." Donna is survived by her husband, two children: Donnalynn James (William Deppe) and Russell Robert Masartis (Cheri), Six grandchildren: Jamie Hoover (Jesse), Brittni Hayes (Sir Crumpet), Courtney Bland (Will), Kelsey Boeggeman (John), Caitlin Masartis, and Kiersten Masartis, and nine great-grandchildren; Riley Hayes, Ally Hoover, Abby Hoover, Matthew Boeggeman, Anthony Boeggeman, Leila Boeggeman, Liam Bland, Oliver Bland, and Violet Bland, and her siblings; Linda Kneiss, Carol Buffone, and Jack Ceney.

There will be a private family memorial service at a later date.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the Health Well Foundation (which assisted families in pain for Leukemia medication). www.healthwellfoundation.org/donate/ 

Arrangements are with Rush Funeral Home of Wall.