Funeral Services For Donald W. Mahannah Of O'Neill

​Funeral services for Donald W. Mahannah, age 84 of O’Neill and formerly of Butte will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 29 2017 at First Presbyterian Church in O’Neill with military rites provided by the O’Neill American Legion Simonson Post #93. The Rev. Karen Larson will officiate. 

Visitation will be Friday, July 28, 2017, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Biglin’s Mortuary in O’Neill with a 7 p.m. time of sharing. 

Donald passed away Wednesday, July 26 at Avera St. Anthony’s Hospital in O’Neill after a short battle with cancer.
Donald Weidner Mahannah was born July 31, 1932, in Bonesteel, South Dakota. His parents were Willis “Mack” and Esther (Schiessler) Mahannah. After graduating from Butte High School in 1950, he attended the University of Nebraska for two years before enlisting in the United States Navy, serving as a Navy Corpsman at Oceanside, California.
In 1954, he married Betty Ofe in Butte. Upon his honorable discharge from the Navy in 1956, he returned to UN-L for two years before enrolling in pharmacy school at South Dakota State University in Brookings, earning his pharmacy degree in 1961. He later earned a Doctorate of Pharmacy. Don and Betty returned to Butte in 1961 when Don joined his grandfather and father at Mahannah Pharmacy.
Don and his family contributed much to his hometown of Butte, its annual Pancake Days and its 75th Jubilee celebration. He volunteered his time as football stat keeper and kept books at countless basketball games. Baseball was also a big part of his life. He played on the town team and coached the Butte American Legion ball club.
He left Butte and the family-owned business in 1975, moving to Yankton, S.D., where he worked for White Drug. In 1978, the family moved to Chamberlain, S.D., where Don worked for Gregg Drug, and in 1981 moved to Pierre, S.D., when he began work as Pharmacy Consultant for the State of South Dakota. He served as president of the 7-state Western Medicaid Pharmacy Administrators Association for two years. He retired in 1997, and in 2005, he and Betty moved to O’Neill.
Don was a member of various pharmacy associations, American Legion, Masons, and First Presbyterian Church, O’Neill. He enjoyed bowling, camping, golfing, reading, and attending his children’s and grandchildren’s activities. His sense of humor was contagious, and he especially enjoyed making others laugh.
Don is survived by his wife of 63 years, Betty of O’Neill; 5 children: Linda (Brian) Bertsch of Hopkinsville, Ky., Willis “Craig” (Kathy) Mahannah of West Point, Nebr., Mary (Roger) Miller of O’Neill, Keith Mahannah (partner Ryan) of Minneapolis, Minn., and Amy (Mike) McKinney of St. Louis Park, Minn.; 8 grandchildren: Aaron Bertsch of Madison, Wis., Nathan Bertsch of Hopkinsville, Mari (Mike) Maxwell of Fremont, Nebr., Kari Mahannah of Blair, Nebr., Stephanie (Craig) Drueke of O’Neill, Elizabeth (Aron) Parks of O’Neill, and Phoebe and Isabella McKinney, both of St. Louis Park, Minn.; and 5 great-granchildren: Aiden and Layne Maxwell, Wyatt and Rex Drueke, and Tyce Parks.
He was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents.
Memorials can be directed to First Presbyterian Church, O’Neill, or Avera St. Anthony’s Home Health (Hospice). Arrangements are under the direction of Biglin’s Mortuary in O’Neill. To leave online condolences please visit www.biglinsmortuary.com

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