Donna Mae Best

In Lieu of Flowers - Memorials are to be directed to the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church or Geneva Rescue. Donna M. Best (Fredrickson), 94, of Geneva, peacefully passed away December 12, 2023 in her home while surrounded by family. She was born on a farm north of Bassett, Nebraska on January 16, 1929. As a young child, she loved walking the corral fences of the Bassett Livestock Exchange, which was built and operated by her father. She spent most of her childhood years in Bassett and the Long Pine areas before moving to Kearney with her family in 1943. She graduated from Kearney High School in 1945. Donna met and soon married Donald Best on May 29, 1947 and they celebrated 66 years of marriage together until his death in 2013. She raised her family and supported Don throughout his career with a classy and strong way that always showed compassion for others. Aside from raising her 5 children, she worked for various businesses in town and operated a daycare for many years in her home. She was a true matriarch of the family. She and Donald were founding members of several churches in various communities, including Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Geneva. She served others as a church council member, as the president of the church’s women’s group, as president and secretary of Stewardship and treasurer of the Nebraska Women’s Southern Prairie Conference. For over 50 years, she loved serving and leading meal service for funerals and soup suppers at the church. Donna loved to bake cookies, cakes, cinnamon rolls, and cook meals for company and family alike. It was never too long after coming to her home that she would ask, “have you eaten?” She welcomed everyone and was gracious in granting her full attention to all that visited with her. She loved planting and nurturing her flower gardens and always had time to be part of her children’s events. She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald, parents Malta and Mae Fredrickson of Axtell, Nebraska, sisters Marie (Andy) Anderson of Bassett and Blanche (Clarence) Burger of Lincoln, brother James (Wanda, Neva (deceased)) Fredrickson of Long Pine, two infant twin sons Kerry and Terry, and grandson, Anthony Bertuccelli. She is survived by daughter Cristy and husband Keith Koch of Sutton, NE; Cherryl Bertuccelli of Osborne, KS; Sandi and husband Rod Renken of Geneva; Brad Best and wife Dianna of Henderson, NE; and Carol Best of Geneva, NE. She was also blessed with nine grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and friend as faith and family were paramount in her life. She served as a perfect example of ways to seek and lighten the burdens of others.

Tributes

Donna Mae Best

January 16, 1929 - December 12, 2023