Donna Brinkman

Donna Mae Brinkman, 83, of Beeville, Texas, formerly of Odessa, Texas, passed away peacefully with family members by her side on Saturday, April 7, 2018. She was born on June 23, 1934, to Gertrude (Graese) and Rudalph Luedtke in Hutchinson, Minnesota. Mrs. Brinkman was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran church. Donna married Howard Brinkman on July 5, 1953, at Peace Lutheran Church in Hutchinson, Minnesota. Donna was the first woman bus driver in McLeod County, she worked as a DHIA milk tester and retired from the U.S. Postal Service where she worked as a rural route carrier.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Karen Luedtke; daughter, Lois Brinkman; and son, Brent Brinkman.

She is survived by her loving husband, Howard Brinkman; four daughters, Iolanda (Mark) Benning and Shawn (Mike) Smithers all of Hutchinson, Minnesota, Dee (Bob) Powell of Odessa, Texas and Tonja (Johnny Lovato) Rice of Beeville, Texas; one sister, Roxanne (Milton) Field of Hutchinson, Minnesota; two brothers, Rodney (Marilyn) Luedtke of Ft. Wayne Indiana and Wayne (Pam) Luedtke of Hutchinson, Minnesota; four grandchildren, Charity (Clyde) Carter, Michael (Becky) McLain, Trey Lovato and Marqui McGill; and four great-grandchildren, Gracie, Lyric, Gibson and Creek.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 21, 2018, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in George West, Texas with Pastor Beck officiating.

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