Donald Keith Lewis age 77 of Yankton, South Dakota, formerly of Walnut Grove, Minnesota, passed away Tuesday, February 9, 2016 in Yankton. Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. Friday, February 12 at the Methodist Church in Walnut Grove. Visitation is one hour prior to services. Burial is in the Walnut Grove Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to Alley Cats Org (alleycats.org) or to Tarheel Weimaraner Rescue (in North Carolina….tarheelweimrescue.org). Online condolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice.com. Stephens Funeral Service – Walnut Grove Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Donald Keith Lewis was born May 29, 1938 in the Tracy Hospital in Tracy, Minnesota to Lloyd and Arlene (Beebout) Lewis. He graduated from Walnut Grove High School where he played basketball and football. One of his passions beginning before he was able to drive was following the sport of automobile racing, something he himself was able to do for a number of years. Donald furthered his education at Spartan School of Aeronautics in Tulsa. Donald was a pilot for Groves Construction Firm, Ozark Airlines, and Trans World Airlines. Donald was a member of the Ozark Airlines Silver Swallows. He also farmed near Yankton with his brother on his time off. Don and his wife Linda (a former TWA flight attendant) flew countless trips together and enjoyed their retirement in Yankton, SD., rescuing countless kitties and puppies.
Donald is survived by his beloved wife Linda Weaver Lewis; sister Muriel (Edward) Cunningham; and niece Kirsten Lewis. He is preceded in death by his parents Lloyd and Arlene Lewis and brother Kenneth Lewis.
Dear Friends,
Please accept my sincere sympathy. I am not able to attend services this afternoon. May God be especially close to you and bring his comfort to all. With blessings and love, Melba Pack
Thank you, Melba. I wish you could haveebeen at the services–would have loved seeing you. Muriel
Linda,
I don’t believe we ever met. I flew countless hours with Don on the Fairchild and DC9 starting in 1978 and I enjoyed every single one of them. Such a kind, humble gentleman. One of the guys I will never forget. Please accept my most sincere condolences.
Michael Ragsdale, Champaign, IL
Dear Michael, Thank You So Much for your kind (& true) words about My Precious Husband, as well as your sincere condolences. This Really means a lot to me, as I am still going through a very difficult time !!!
A great pilot and a true gentleman in every sense of the word. RIP Don.
Gary Lansford
Pilot, Ozark, TWA, American
I Thank You Gary, from the depth of my heart, for your Very kind & Sincere words and memories of My Precious DON .
Linda, Muriel, and Kirsten,
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. My crush on Don started when he arrived in Walnut Grove in the 5th grade. What a wonderful guy and how we treasure our memories of good times as the Class of ’56. We hope you can feel God’s hug…and ours. Peace and love from Alaska, Dahna
Thanks, Dahna. Yes, your class was exceptionally close. Donny loved going to the class reunions.
So sad to hear of Don’s passing. I think of our good times in school, they started in the second grade and continued through hi school. I see Melba Pack sent her condolences. She was our 3rd grade teacher. We knew her as Miss Brass. She did not know I had a crush on her…..I am the one that talked Don into going to Spartan in Tulsa. We were going together, then I backed out. Poor choice on my part. We last saw Don July 14′ 2009 on our way to Alaska. He did not look good then. He was recovering from bladder cancer. His Mom was still with him. We have lots of fond memories. At least all his pain is gone ans he can rest in peace. Life is for the living, so we must go on to the end. ?est wishes….. God bless and comfort you.
Thanks, Don and Janetta. Yes, Donny has had health difficulties in the past five or so years. And, you’re right. His pain is all gone now.
Hi Linda,
You may not remember me but I was Dons room mate both in Rosemont and Schiller Park in the days of Ozark when he was single and looking for you. needless to say we shared a lot of good times together and must have done so for five years or more. I will always remember basically his shyness but focused personality. Don was a man you could depend on if needed and very straight forward. Later as our careers progressed I had the pleasure of flying a single trip with him where we ended in a very high speed aborted take off in New York while on ice no less. He was a superb pilot in his own way and I will always remember him for the good and decent man he was. My heartfelt sympathy to you and your family in these trying days of life.
Captain Marv Bachman/767/International/Retired
Thank You So Much Dear Marv, and of course I remember You fondly. As You & Everyone Else at our Airline Know Well, DON was & Still is “the One & Only True LOVE of My LIFE “ . Thank you again for your kind & True words, as well as your continued Friendship
ps. Dear Marv , Please forgive the “Question marks “, as I Assure you, I didn’t put them there. I suppose I made the mistake of typing cute airline symbols that perhaps weren’t allowed.
Linda Lewis
I learned of Don’s passing from the Ozark silver swallows. Passing on my condolences. What a great guy and one of the true gentleman I ever flew with at both Ozark and Twa. Great pilot laid back and low key, a joy to fly with. Dixon Johnson
MY SINCERE & EVERLASTING ” THANK YOU” TO ALL MY TWA & OZARK “FAMILY”, FOR ALL YOUR BEAUTIFUL REMARKS & MEMORIES TO ME and” MY DARLING and FABULOUS HUSBAND DON” – THE “ONLY TRUE LOVE OF MY ENTIRE LIFE” <3 HE WAS & WILL FOREVER REMAIN " MY EVERYTHING " !!! I THANK YOU FROM MY WHOLE HEART !!! WITH LOVE TO YOU and YOURS , LINDA <3