Mona Marie McDonald Schaeffer was born Dec. 4th, 1930 in Alfalfa County in Oklahoma to Lloyd Evertt McDonald and Iona Charlottie Summers McDonald.
Mona and her sister Donnas made many moves with their family from job to job in early childhood including Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Texas before settling down so the girls could go to school in one place. In 1947 Mona and her family moved to Wood South Dakota where she finished high school in 1949 and met her future husband Dwight Schaeffer. Before marrying, Mona attended Sioux Valley Hospital School of Nursing, graduating in September 1952. Mona traveled to England where Staff Sargent Dwight Schaeffer was stationed in the Air Force. Mona and Dwight were married Dec. 13 1952 at Dunmoe, Essex, England.
Mona and Dwight returned home to the farm at Wood in November 1953 to take over the farm because of Dwight’s father’s failing health. Four children were born to this union, Daniel Lowell, Brian Kent, Lisa Marie and Craig Todd. During the years on the farm Mona taught Sunday School and Bible School and served as the Sunday School Superintendent for 17 years. In October 1964 Mona and Dwight started work as a Mobil fuel agent taking over for Lee McDonald who retired. In April 1969 they bought the business from Mobil to become Schaeffer Oil Co. In August 1970 they bought out a Mobil distributer in Winner, South Dakota and moved there to run the business. Mona worked as the head bookkeeper for many years until she and Dwight relocated to Tempe, Ariiz., in the 1990’s.
One of Mona’s favorite hobbies was genealogy and she made numerous trips to Salt Lake City, Rapid City, and many eastern states researching her family “roots”. Mona compiled and printed books for both the Summers and McDonald sides of her family as well as Dwight’s family.
Mona and Dwight returned to Winner in 2012 and took up residence at the Golden Prairie Manor to be closer to their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Mona is survived by her husband of 65 years, Dwight, children: Daniel Schaeffer, Brian (Jan) Schaeffer, Lisa (Robert) Koskan, Craig (Lori) Schaeffer, Grandchildren: Brandi Schaeffer, Logan Schaeffer, Lindsay Sletten, Lacy Schaeffer, Christopher Schaeffer, Shannon (Ronnie) Weir, Ryan Koskan, Devin (Kelsie) Koskan, Alex Schaeffer, Marlee Schaeffer and 9 great-grandchildren.
Mona was preceded in death by her sister Donnas and husband Francis Leat, her parents Lloyd and Iona McDonald, Dwight’s parents Luther Schaeffer and Astrid Schaeffer Kositzky, and step-father Bill Kositzky.
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