LaDonna Dorothy Weidner

Doni was born March 13, 1940 to Paul and Dorothy Hofer. Larry was born February 2, 1939 to Abraham and Edna Weidner, both families were from a rural community in Yale, South Dakota. They each started school attending a one-room country schoolhouse. Upon entering Elementary School both families moved to Yale. By the time they attended High School, they were dating and Doni was a cheerleader. Larry was involved in softball, basketball and track. During his senior year of High School Larry was part of a 3 man team that won the South Dakota State Track Meet and he held the State record in long jump. They were married in 1956 and Larry attended Huron College where he earned a BA in Mathematics. They welcomed their first child Tammy. Again he participated in track where his team won the South Dakota Intercollegiate Crown, where he ran 100 yard dash, 220 yard dash, low hurdles and mile relay, while still maintaining the State HS long jump record. Larry continued his education after they moved to Lennox, SD where he taught high school and coached basketball. He received his first Masters Degree in Mathematics and welcomed their son Brett in 1961. Later they returned to Huron where Larry taught Math at that same Huron College and Doni started attending college courses.

In 1969 they moved to East Lansing MI, where Larry attended MSU in pursue of his Doctorate in Mathematical Education. He became a Middle School and High School teacher for the next 25 years in the Lansing School District. He taught math and coached track at Otto Jr. High; coached JV basketball, track and cross country at Harry Hill HS. He finished his career at Everett HS where he taught and coached track, winning the State Championship in 1984. During all those years of sports, Doni raised Tammy and Brett through their years of High School while working as a Supervisor for MSU Radiology Department and retiring after 25 years of dedicated service.

Although they took pride in their work, Doni and Larry valued their Faith above all else. In 1950 Doni surrendered her life to Christ at the age of ten at Bethel Church in SD, while Larry changed from Luthern to Baptist and accepted Christ in his adult years when he also became baptized. They have been members of South (Baptist) Church in Lansing MI since 1970. Their faith in Christ was the foundation to their love and life and the cornerstone of how they raised their children and grandchildren.

The love they had for their family was endless. No one will ever forget their excitement when they learned they were going to be great-grandparents. Doni in particular loved each and every moment that she was able to speak on the phone to family, or have her kids, grandkids and great-grandson come to visit. She was kind, loving and loved to bake for others. She was known to have a Tupperware filled with cookies or cupcakes on the counter to any and all who entered her home. Visitors came often, especially when Spring arrived and friends and neighbors would stop to admire her huge beautiful pink bubblegum petunias. Like Doni, Larry had a green thumb and has had a garden every year since his SD years. He loved working outside and his lawn was immaculate and never a blade of grass out of place.

They found time to relax and also spend time with their hobbies. Larry’s passion for MSU sports was well known. He held season basketball tickets for 45 years. He always knew the recruiting reports and never missed a game. He had a love for fishing, mostly with his brothers and spent many memorable days fishing on the river in SD or on his boat in Ludington. He spend many hours practicing his golf game, usually deciding he needed a new club. He participated in golf leagues until he could no longer swing a club, but continued to practice putting in his basement. A jokester who loved to make people laugh. In her later years, Doni loved to spend the day in her wooden rocking chair rocking babies or reading. She was always wearing pink and purple shirts, her favorite colors like her flowers.

After knowing each other for more than 75 years and enjoying 65 years of marriage, Doni and Larry departed this life joining their Lord and Savior in Heaven where they will spend eternity together. Doni passed away unexpectedly on December 1, 2021 and Larry followed on December 4, 2021 after a long battle with cancer. Both were surrounded by loved ones who will cherish that memory.

They are loved and missed by their daughter Tammy (Tom) Hamel; son Brett Weidner; grandchildren Ryan (Kourtney) Weidner, Taylor Hamel, and Kate (Misael) Acosta; their beloved great-grandson Blake Weidner. Siblings: Quentin and Barb Weidner, Raymond and Shirley Hofer, Deanna and Jerry Bowes, Ronnie and Paulette Weidner; six nieces and four nephews; and four very special adopted grandchildren; Anabelle, Jack, Stella and Matty whom Doni and Larry took in as infants and cared for in their golden years.

The family will greet friends for a combined memorial visitation from 10:30am until time of memorial service at 12:00 noon on Saturday, January 22, 2022 at South Church, 5250 Cornerstone Dr., Lansing, Michigan.

In lieu of flowers, a donation in their honor may be sent to South Church in Lansing, MI or James Valley Christian School in Huron, SD.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.greastlansing.com for the Weidner family.