Donna Hesnard-Starr

Donna Hesnard-Starr passed away early Sunday morning, Feb. 22, 2026, surrounded by family at West Hills Village Nursing Home (Rapid City, S.D.) after a brief stay in the hospital. 
She was born Aug. 6, 1930 on a ranch near Belvidere, S.D. to Glen L. and M. Madge (Cain) Shorb.
After moving the family to the Hermosa, S.D., area in 1945 she attended Rapid City High School, graduating with the Class of 1948.
She attended a semester of college at Black Hills State College, then married Donald Hesnard Dec. 5, 1948. Their first few years of marriage were spent in Ft. Collins, Colo., where sons David and Douglas were born.
After Donald’s graduation from Colorado State University they moved back to the ranch west of Hermosa where a third son, Dwight, and three daughters Dee, Debra and Danielle were born.
Ranch life and raising a large family kept Donna very busy! There were always large gardens to tend and meals to cook and chores to be done. She often said that “The best thing you’ll ever do is your children!” Even though family life kept her busy, she was active in church, Eastern Star and community activities! Her hospitality, generosity, and wonderful cooking were known far and wide!
It was a little while after the destructive 1972 Flood that she hired on to the Rapid City Post Office where she worked 21 years on the night shift as a letter sorting machine operator. 
Retiring in January of 1993 afforded her time to enjoy the growing family, including 12 grandchildren and to date, 28 great-grandchildren.
On Nov. 27, 1999, she married Frank Starr and enjoyed two happy years together traveling from the Black Hills to Myrtle Beach until his passing in November of 2001.
In her free time Donna enjoyed sewing, reading, cooking, her beloved pets, playing cards, and spending time with family and friends. She especially treasured her West Hills Village family and her daily “Golden Girls” lunch time conversations.
Grateful for being a part of her 95 years include brother Clifford (Mary) Shorb of Hermosa; sons, David (Sylvia) Hesnard of Fayetteville, N.C., and Dwight (Linda) Hesnard of Lincoln, Neb.; daughters,  Dee (Jim) Preston of Hermosa, Debra (Mike) Smith of Hermosa, and Danielle (Mike) Larson of Ft. Dodge, Iowa; 12 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews are all a part of the legacy that she leaves behind.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Glen and Madge Shorb; brothers, Norman and Dallas Shorb; husbands, Donald Hesnard and Frank Starr; and son, Douglas Hesnard.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to: The Western Hills Humane Society in Spearfish, The Black Hills Humane Society in Rapid City, or the Hermosa UCC Congregational Church.
The family will hold a service, tentatively scheduled for late July 2026.