RAPID CITY –– Donna Jean Peppers, 91, went to be with her Savior on Friday, February 13, 2026, at the Hospice House in Rapid City from complications from an illness and recent hospitalization.
Donna Jean (Mowery) Peppers was born September 28, 1934, in Doland, to Milton and Orva (Beckett) Mowery. She graduated from Doland High School and later graduated from Huron College in 1965. Donna met and married Gale Wesley Peppers on December 3, 1955, in Huron. Donna and Wes both taught school in the Miller area until 1961. Wes and Donna owned The Music Center in Huron from 1961 until 1994.
Donna taught second grade in Huron for 31 years until her retirement in 1990. She was active in educational groups, Beta Sigma Phi, and a member of the 1st United Methodist Church and Order of Eastern Star. She enjoyed creating stained‑glass window art. Donna started doing stained glass again in Rapid City with her daughter, Paula. Donna was also an avid reader. Her interest in reading dates back to her teaching years, where some of her second-grade students would read up to 1000 books per year.
Donna traveled with Wes and the American Youth Symphonic Band, Chorus, and Orchestra on four European tours and served as a chaperone. Besides traveling in Europe, she and Wes traveled to Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Caracas, Venezuela, China, Italy, Greece, New Zealand, Australia, and took a Seaward Norwegian cruise and a Sea of Cortez cruise on Holland America.
In 1994, the couple moved to Rapid City, where Donna enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, especially in their backyard and swimming pool. Donna and Wes were members of the American Motors Car Club and enjoyed getting together with club members at various locations around the Black Hills, as well as in Denver, Colo., and Kenosha, Wisc. In Rapid City, Donna was active with Meals on Wheels and the Rapid City Concert Association, serving as the membership chairman for over 20 years. She was honored to share her life with her husband of 67 years. Her life was full of many blessings.
Donna was preceded in death by her parents; sisters Delores Kleinsasser of Redfield, and Janice Rainford of Redfield; and her husband, G. Wesley Peppers. She is survived by her daughter, Paula (Mark) Stotz; grandchildren Levi Stotz and Shelby (Stotz) Nesci; great-granddaughter Sage Nesci; and many nieces and nephews.
A private family burial will take place at Restlawn Cemetery, Huron.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in memory of Donna Peppers to: www.stjudes.org or https://donate.shrinerschildrens.org.
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