- Birth Name: Donna
- Current Name: Donna
- Religious Name: Mary Blaine
- Last Name: Brown
- Mother's Name: Ethel (Waddell) Brown
- Father's Name: Charles Brown
- Hometown: Sioux Falls, SD
- Entry Date: January 2, 1959
- Current Status: Deceased
- Death Date: March 18, 2025
- Additional Info: View Sister Donna’s Obituary
Education:
1961 - Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI - Personnel Management
1967 - Presentation College, Aberdeen, SD - Associate Degree General Education and Business
1971 - Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MO - Bachelor of Science Degree in Recreation and Leisure Sciences
1985 - Loyola University, Chicago, IL - Master’s Degree in Pastoral Studies
1997 - Professional School of Massage, Langhorne, PA - Certification
Biography:
Sister Donna Brown, a native of Sioux Falls, SD, worked for Nickel Plate Systems, owned and operated several restaurants and was sales manager for Polar Amana Food Services prior to entering the Presentation Community. Sister served as a dormitory supervisor at the Presentation Children’s Home, Sioux Falls, SD, and worked in Recreational Therapy at a veteran’s hospital in Kansas City, MO and at Cliff Manor Nursing Home, Kansas City, MO. She went on to serve as an administrator at (Avera) Mother Joseph Manor, Aberdeen, SD and as an Assistant Director at Presentation College’s Development Office before beginning her ministry of holistic massage therapy. Sister Donna has served in massage therapy for over 28 years.
1942-1948 - Nickel Plate Systems - Assistant Manager
1948-1949 - Ray’s Drive Inn - Assistant Manager
1949-1951 - Sno-White Café - Owner
1950-1952 - Donna’s Drive Inn - Owner
1952-1956 - Lunch Stands, Celebrations - Owner
1956-1959 - Polar Amana Food Service - Sales Manager
1962-1966 - Presentation Children’s Home, Sioux Falls, SD - Boys' Dormitory
1966-1968 - Presentation Convent, Aberdeen, SD - Book Store and Classes
1970-1971 - Veterans Hospital, Kansas City, MO - Recreation Therapy
1970-1972 - Cliff Manor Nursing Home, Kansas City, MO - Recreation Therapy and Volunteer Director
1972-1975 - Presentation Convent, Aberdeen, SD - Work Shop, Leisure, Recreation
1975-1980 - (Avera) Mother Joseph Manor, Aberdeen, SD - Administrator
1980-1983 - Presentation College, Aberdeen, SD - Development
1985-1989 - Professional Massage Center, St. Paul, MN - Massage Therapist
1989-2015 - Sioux Falls, SD - Holistic Massage Therapist
Currently retired in Sioux Falls, Sister Donna's love of life is evident and she continues to share her compassionate heart, joyful smile and loving spirit through music, singing and dancing.