Donna Jensvold

Donna M. Jensvold, 84, of Flandreau, SD, passed away on Sunday, October 6, 2024 at Avera Flandreau Hospital. A memorial service was on Friday, October 11 at Skroch Funeral Chapel in Colman, SD. 

Donna was born on March 20, 1940 to Eldon and Frances (Cramer) Thornber on the family farm in Colman, SD. She was raised in Colman and received her primary education at Troup Country School and her secondary education at Colman High School.

She was united in marriage to Tom Allen, Sr. in March of 1958. To this union, the couple were blessed with three children, Tom, Jeanette, and Bruce. The couple later divorced. In 1968, she was married to Marcus L. Sherburne, and the couple were blessed with two sons, Charles and Marc. The couple would later divorce. 

As a single parent, she worked as a waitress while furthering her education, taking courses in accounting and bookkeeping at Manpower in Albert Lea, MN. She then worked as the accounting manager at Albert Lea Municipal Airport until May of 1979. On June 9, 1979, in Buffalo Center, IA, she married George A. Jensvold. As a new resident in Buffalo Center her entrepreneurial spirit sparked, opening and managing a thrift store and supporting the family business, managing the Buffalo Motel.

In 1984, George, Donna and family moved to Lake Mille Lacs near Garrison, MN, where they owned and operated the Rainbow Inn Resort. In 1990, she began as payroll manager at Izatys’s Resort and Golf Course. In the early 2000s, she accepted a payroll position at Grand Casino Mille Lacs in Onamia, MN, and remained in that position until her retirement in August 2007 to care for George until his passing on March 17, 2010.

Some of her hobbies included: word games, crossword puzzles, and gardening. She and George enjoyed bird watching, traveling, and always had an open door for drop-in guests at their home on Lake Mille Lacs. Donna was an avid Minnesota Vikings fan! She was known for her boundless energy and positive push-forward attitude.

Grateful for having shared her life are her children, Tom (Lisa) Allen of Colman, SD, Jeanette Allen (Mark Anderson) of Flandreau, SD, Bruce Allen of Flandreau, SD, Charles I. Sherburne of Apple Valley, MN, and Marc Sherburne of Madrid, NY; siblings, Clayton (Marlene) Thornber of Combined Locks, WI, and Sandy Thornber of London, OH; grandchildren, Michael, Mae, and Cadence Allen, Zachary and Kathryn Allen, Marilyn, David, and Julian Allen, Kasie, Brodie, Hallie and Archer, and Chloie Sherburne, Charles J. Sherburne and Aubrey Sherburne; stepchildren, Sue (Steve) Bosma, Tony (Frannie) Jensvold, Todd Jensvold, and Mary (Rande) Geisking; and 11 great-grandchildren. Bonus grandchildren who she loved very much, Jesse, Katie, Jeremiah, Sarah, Emily, Grace, Kayla, Jacob, Mitch, Lauren, and Sydney.

She was preceded in death by her son, Mark John Allen (3 days); parents, Eldon W. and Frances Thornber; husband, George Jensvold; siblings, Eldon (Sonny) and Geneva Thornber, Sue Ann (Thornber) Christianson; grandson, Jeffery M. Allen; and great-grandson, Michael Gail Allen.