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Donald M. Little, Sr.
January 27, 1923 - August 27, 2014
Donald Morton Little was born January 27, 1923 in Codington County, SD to David and Mabel (Stone) Little.
Don graduated from Waverly High School in 1941, where he played on the basketball team. He graduated from SDSU in 1945 with a degree in botany and played saxophone in the Pride of the Dakotas Marching Band. He and his brother Sheldon escorted their brother Frank to California and stopped through Denver to visit their Aunt Winifred. It is there that Don and brother Sheldon met their future wives (sisters) from Craig, Colorado after being introduced as “Farm-Assists”. Don married Mary Lucinda Pankey November 23, 1950 at the First Baptist Church in Craig, Colorado. They lived on their current farm near Castlewood from 1950-1958, “the river farm” north of Castlewood from 1958-1978 and then moved back to the current farm.
Don was a farmer and rancher and was very innovative. He was among the first in the community to have the large round baler, a rotary combine and to plant soybeans. At about age 65 he turned over the farming to his sons and started a tree nursery. Don was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Castlewood, SD, where he served as Trustee, Elder and adult Sunday School Teacher. He taught Ag classes to WWII Veterans at the Castlewood School in the early 1950’s and also served on the Castlewood and Hamlin County School Boards. The crab apple trees that line Second Avenue in north Castlewood were donated by Don in about 1990; he also donated trees for use at the Castlewood Golf Course. He died on Wednesday, August 27, 2014 at Jenkins Living Center in Watertown at the age of 91 years.
According to Don, he didn’t actually have a birthday, so no celebration was necessary. When he was age 13, he walked out from behind the door; and they said “well Hi Don, we’ve been expecting you.” Don loved to make people laugh. He was especially interested in geology, astrology, astronomy, psychology, science and most any subject. He made many personal observations in the book margins which provided huge insight into his mind when you borrowed his books. His favorite games were Caroms and Pinochle. He was an extreme rock hound. He also loved and studied birds, enticed by a bird book his Uncle Glen made him when he was a lad. Don loved trees and grew many that should not have been able to grow in South Dakota. He had about every color and shape of crab apple tree that you could dream of. He also grew yummy trees like catalpa, yellowwood, yellowhorn, euonymous, redbud, maples, cherry and trees with white bark like birch and aspen; trees that bloom yellow and red and trees with beautiful seed pods; every kind of evergreen like spruce and yew, larch and white pine and weeping pine, fir and dwarf varieties that are red and yellow and blue. He might have planted more trees than Johnny Appleseed! His favorite gift to his children, nieces and nephews was another tree! You can hardly open a book at the house that doesn’t have a tree leaf in it drying. He loved to walk with his children and grandchildren and collect leaves and fruit and seeds and watch and listen to the birds. He and Mary Lou have hundreds of birds written down that they have seen over the years.
Don is survived by his wife, Mary Lou; and children Lorna (Rick) Jost of Volga, SD and their children Lynae (Mike) Heninger and Erica (Dustin) Woodford; Don (Peggy) Little, Jr. of Castlewood, SD and their children Brooks (Shelly), Dustin (Bailey), Brittany and Kelsey; Barry (Carolee) Little of Castlewood, SD and their children Isaac and Eli (Jessica); and Cindy (Chad) Lavin of Fort Collins, CO; his sister Musette (Connie) Huse of Onida, SD; his brothers Sheldon (Stella) Little and Larry (Janet) Little of Watertown; his sister-in-laws Audrey Little of Springfield, MN and Charlotte Little of LaCrescenta, California; eight great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews whom he adored. Don was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Frank, Philip, Norman and Stanley. He is fondly remembered by his family as a kind, gentle soul who was quick-witted, close to nature, a friend of animals and who so loved to make everyone laugh.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to Haiti Solar Oven Partners, 928 4th Street #2, Brookings, SD. 57006.
His funeral service will be 2:00 PM, Saturday, August 30, 2014 at First Presbyterian Church in Castlewood. Visitation will be from 6PM to 8PM Friday at Geise Funeral Chapel in Castlewood. Burial will be in the Castlewood Cemetery,
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