Donna Louise Bebensee

Donna Louise Bebensee, age 86, passed away Saturday, July 19, 2025, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, IA. Donna was born on September 21,1938 to Lawrence and Ida Overby in Ottumwa, IA. She later lived in Omaha, NE before settling in Des Moines, IA. Donna married Paul Bebensee on January 6, 1962; they were together for 63 years. She worked as a dental/lab assistant, a retail salesclerk and then as a purchasing agent at an office supply company for 18 years before retiring in 1995.

Donna belonged to the Danish Brotherhood Lodge 15, the “For Women Only” women’s cardiac support group at Lutheran Hospital, the Scleroderma Foundation and the Pulmonary Hypertension Association. She performed volunteer work for the Lodge as well as her church. Donna enjoyed spending time with her family, gardening, fishing, having picnics (especially roasting marshmallows) at local parks, as well as collecting cookbooks, kaleidoscopes, Goebel Friar Tuck figurines and souvenir spoons. She was fond of a good chocolate malt, glazed donuts, white cake with buttercream frosting and a hot cup of coffee.

Donna is survived by her children, Diane (Barry) Bennett of Des Moines, IA and Paula (Roderick) DeAngelo of Altoona, IA; grandchildren, Tyler (Savannah) Bennett, Nicholas (Emily) DeAngelo and Elaina DeAngelo; her sister, Mary Fox; and many nieces and nephews.

Donna was preceded in death by her husband; parents; and brother, Philip Overby.

Memorial service will be held Tuesday, July 29, 2025 at 1 p.m. at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Ave, Des Moines, IA. Family will greet guests following until 2:45 p.m. Donna will be laid to rest following visitation at Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery, 1 NE 60th Ave, Des Moines.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Women’s Shelter at Hope Ministries (hopeiowa.org/what-we-do/for-women-and-children) or the Danish Brotherhood Lodge 15 Scholarship Fund.

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