Idel McDonald, age 88, of Huron and formerly of Wolsey, passed away on Wednesday, March 30, 2022 at Avantara Huron.

Her Funeral Service will be held on Monday, April 4, 2022 at 2:00 PM at First Presbyterian Church in Wolsey with burial at Wolsey Cemetery.

Visitation, will be one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday.

Idel McDonald was born Idel LeVae Beals on July 2, 1933 in Wahpeton, ND to James Dewey and Gladys Jane (Richards) Beals. At age 3, the family moved to Harlingen, TX where she grew up and graduated from High School in 1951. After graduation, Idel attended Durham's Business College and graduated in 1952. She worked at the Air Force base as a clerk/typist where she met the love of her life, Airman 1st class George McDonald on a blind date. They were united in marriage May 1, 1953 at the Methodist Church at Harlingen.

After 14 moves including Harlingen, TX, Grygla, MN, and Huron, SD, they finally settled in Wolsey, SD in 1959 partnering with her brother, Duane Beals, to start their own beekeeping business. Idel was an active member of the 1st Presbyterian Church of Wolsey, the Hershman-Gordon American Legion Auxiliary Post # 59, Wolsey Senior Center, Birthday Club, Jolly Janes, Scrabble Club, Brownie Leader, Circle Club, Ladies Aid, Tops, and was the leader of a local Bible Study for several years. Mom's house was a beehive of activity with kids coming and going while enjoying her treats and southern hospitality. All kids were drawn to her outgoing personality and the coffee pot was always on.

She enjoyed playing piano and organ, cross stitching, camping, fishing, playing Scrabble and other word games. After being introduced to computers, Idel was a fast learner and spent hours playing her favorite computer word game, Bookworm .  Later years were spent enjoying their "other" home at West Whitlock with her family frequently fishing for walleye.

Idel is survived by her four daughters Artie (Kevin) Reilly of Wolsey, Sharlotte Hines of Huron, Maureen (Kurt) Dubois of Wolsey, Teresa (Danny) Edwards of Rock Springs, WY; her sister Coralyn Judy Harder of Lincoln, NE; her sister-in-law, Melva Beals of Wolsey and brother-in-law, Max (Maxine) McDonald, of Decatur, TX; her grandchildren Matthew Reilly of Sioux Falls, Dustin (Lauren) Reilly of Wolsey, Adam Hines, Arron (Cortney) Hines of Huron, Gena (Jason) Nelson of Harrisburg, Dana (JT Haak) Dubois of Huron, Morgan McDonald of Rock Springs, WY; four great grandchildren Jaiden Skinner, Matthew Hines, Sophia Reilly, and Reese Haak; and many nieces and nephews as well as her special friend William Scheibe of Huron.

Preceding in death were her parents JD and Gladys Beals, husband George McDonald, her sister, Eleanor (Holt) Smitherman, her brother Duane Beals, her twin brother Varner Beals, her son-in-law Phillip Hines and grandson, Benjamin Dubois.