Donna Kay Odegaard, 71 of Grinnell died November 23, 2014 at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines.

    Funeral services are scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Saturday, November 29, 2014, at the First Baptist Church in Grinnell with Pastor Dr. Dondrea Walker, Sr., officiating. Organist will be Denise Baustian and soloist, Gary Gibson. Honorary bearers will be Shawn Betts, Gary Gibson, Mike Holland, Jeremy Meeker, Matthew and Spencer Moyer, Dan Sears and Dennis "Pee Wee" Whannel. Burial will be held at a later date at the Marietta Cemetery in Marshall County west of Marshalltown.

   Visitation with the family present will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday, November 28, 2014, at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell.

    Memorials may be directed towards the First Baptist Church, in memory of Donna.

Donna was born November 12, 1943, in Marshalltown, the daughter of Earl Ray and Esther Schmoranz Meeker. She was raised in Marshalltown and was a 1961 graduate of Marshalltown High School where she was very social in school activities and as a cheerleader. Following high school, she was employed at the Marshalltown Hospital and also did some professional modeling while employed with clothing retailers.

    On July 1, 1960, she was united in marriage with Russell C. Betts, in Marshalltown and to this union two children were born, Lori and Bob. She was later married to Ben Odegaard on November 22, 1980 in Grinnell. Donna raised her children in Grinnell and she was very active in their lives as well. She cared deeply for her entire family!

    Throughout most of her life, Donna was employed in retail sales and as a business owner; her retail experience was invaluable. Her last employment was with Iowa Telecom and she retired from there in 2009.

    During Donna's life she lived in Kansas, Colorado, Arizona, Nebraska and South Dakota, prior to moving back to Grinnell in 2000 to be near her family. While in Grinnell she was a member of the First Baptist Church.

    Donna was a long-term cancer patient and was deeply committed in defeating this disease. She was admired by many for her devotion and strong faith and for this was selected as "Patient of the Year" at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in 2009. She held a powerful love for her family and her love always shined through! She genuinely cared for people and her friends were always important to her. Donna loved life and the people in it, she was fun loving with a great sense of humor and held a strong spiritual presence. She loved angels!

    Donna will be missed deeply by her loved ones; her mother, Esther Meeker of Grinnell; her two children, Lori Betts Holland of Superior, Colorado and Grinnell, and Robert "Bob" Betts of Westminster, Colorado; one brother, Douglas R. (Patty) Meeker of Grinnell; one sister, Dana Meeker Moyer of Grinnell; her grandchildren, Shawn (Ellie) Betts of Loveland, Colorado; Tori Nicole Betts of Westminster, and Scott Holland of Fresno, California; two; three nephews, Matt and Spencer Moyer of Grinnell and Jeremy (Jennifer) Meeker of Newburg; one great-nephew, Mason Meeker; one step-grandson, Ryan Holland and his family; and several cousins. She was preceded in death by her father and her grandparents.