Donna passed away on Friday evening, June 12, 2026 at Mount Carmel Homes in Kearney, Nebraska following an extended illness.  Funeral Services will be held on Friday, June 19, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Shenandoah.  The family will greet friends at the church one hour prior to services.  Burial will follow in the Rose Hill Cemetery.  Memorials are suggested to the family.

Donna Joanne Rulon, daughter of Alvin and Lillie (Gustafson) Anderson was born October 17, 1935 in the small town of Page Center, Iowa. She entered into eternal peace on June 12, 2026 at the age of 90 at Mount Carmel Home, Kearney, Nebraska.

Donna had six siblings: Irvin, Howard, Marvin, Clark, Dick and Beth Ann. They all grew up on the family farm near Norwich, Iowa. The Norwich Methodist church was where the family attended church and where Donna received her first bible by being the only one in her Sunday school
class to learn all the books of the bible. The family still has that bible.

She attended country school, Tarkio #8, grade kindergarten through 8th grade. Following graduating from country school, Donna attended Shenandoah High School, graduating with the class of 1954. She then was employed by the George Jay Drug store. While working there at the
famous "Jay Drug Soda Fountain", she met the love of her life and on December 22, 1957, Donna Joanne Anderson and William (Bill) Arnold Rulon were united in marriage at the First Baptist Church in Shenandoah, Iowa. A beautiful and enduring marriage that was blessed for nine days shy of 53 years when her beloved husband, Bill, passed away on December 13, 2010.  They were blessed with the birth of two children, Deborah Coleen and William Michael.

Donna became an instant "military wife" at marriage as her husband, Bill, was proudly serving in the United States Air Force. They served 20 years with the Air Force until retirement in 1976 at which time they moved back to Shenandoah, their quiet and lovely hometown.

Donna was very busy once back home. Family reunions, care for her elderly mother until her passing, and then caring for her special sister, Beth Ann. She managed and operated the business they purchased, Rulon's Stationary & Office Supply Store, in downtown Shenandoah for eight years. When the business was sold, she immediately became employed as secretary/receptionist for the Cynthia Longman Law Firm until that business closed and moved to Arizona. Then she was employed by the Charles Oxenford CPA office as secretary/receptionist. She thoroughly enjoyed both jobs as she met so many people. While at the CPA office, she was honored and surprised when Mr. Oxenford entered a letter to the
Shenandoah Chamber of Commerce for Donna to be named as Secretary of the Year. The next six years were spent living in Minnesota as a dream was finally fulfilled.  She spent many hours on the lake with Bill fishing and just relaxing. Donna always looked forward to family and friends visiting and she always managed to have the cookie jar full of homemade cookies.

Donna's greatest joy and precious memories were her three grandchildren, Brent, Bradley and Kerri. She could spend hours taking care of them when they were little and then proudly watched as they grew into adulthood. Later she found herself as a great-grandma to Noah and Briella, who at a very young age and with the amazing knowledge they had would always be way ahead of great-grandma Donna. She later lovingly welcomed great-step-granddaughter, Ava, and enjoyed spending time with her.

Donna had a lot of interests and was always thinking of ideas she could do to make other residents in the apartment where she lived look forward to each month the decorations she and her daughter would put up. Decorating was one example where she decorated every holiday and planned special dinners for the residents to enjoy. She loved her apartment where she lived with her daughter, taking care of plants, arranging flowers or just taking it easy. She loved all sports, especially football, and watching her favorite team, the Dallas Cowboys. She liked listening to country music and especially to Alan Jackson. She kept busy visiting with friends, reading, working word puzzles, shopping, going for rides, playing bingo and dominoes with family and friends.

She dearly loved the family dog, Penny, a golden retriever. Penny was a Christmas gift from her son and family as a little puppy. Penny, though an adult dog, considered herself still a puppy because she always jumped up on Donna's lap for a nap. Donna did not mind as she loved that puppy so much. When it was bedtime, Penny would always wait for Donna to put her to bed.

Donna, through this picture of her life, was most pleased and happy that she was able to fulfill her life as a loving daughter, sister, devoted wife, loving and proud mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, sister-in-law and friend to many. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Shenandoah and attended regularly until her health kept her from attending.

Preceding her in death was her beloved husband, Bill; parents, Alvin and Lillie (Gustafson) Anderson; brothers, Irvin, Howard, Marvin, Clark, Richard (Dick) and sister, Lillie Beth Anderson; nephew, Todd Anderson and niece (baby) Melissa Francis Anderson.  Those left to cherish her memory include daughter, Deborah Stephens of Gibbon, NE; son, Michael and wife, Nancy Rulon of Blair, NE; grandson, Brent Stephens of Kearney, NE; grandson, Bradley and wife, Mindy Rulon of Omaha, NE; granddaughter, Kerri Rulon of Lincoln, NE; great-grandson, Noah Stephens and great-granddaughter, Briella Stephens of Kearney, NE; great-step-granddaughter, Ava Tuma of Omaha, NE; nephew Lee Anderson of Shenandoah, IA; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many dear friends.