Donna Thralls

Donna Thralls, wife, mother, and memaw, was born on June 18, 1951, and entered her Savior’s embrace on October 11, 2021. In the 70 years between those dates, she filled homes and hearts with faith, laughter, love, and precisely made casseroles, salads, and pies.

She grew up in a farm home, raised her family in a farm home, and spent her last hours in a farm home. Throughout it all, either by intent or by default, she left so much to so many. She graduated Garber High School in 1969. During her time there, among other things, she was a part of the “Cinnamon Girl trio” where she honed singing in harmony with her sisters. Later this talent was offered to her husband and her church, and her children were “strongly encouraged” to follow suit. It was also during her time at Garber that Donna met a young, farmer’s son named Michael Thralls, whom, it turns out, God intended as her love and partner through life. They were married on August 21,1970. Over the next few years, Donna completed an associate’s degree in secretarial studies, and had five children. Due to her efforts, they were all subjected to experiences she felt prepared them for life more completely. While Michael worked the farm, Donna carried kids to piano lessons, coached meats judging teams, coached livestock judging teams, supervised 4-H sewing projects, baking projects, demonstrations, and speeches. Later when her children got married, she adopted every wife and husband as if they were her own child. Of course, her children were in church every Sunday at Antelope Valley Church of the Brethren, where she served as Sunday school teacher, VBS leader, Deaconess, women’s group chairman, and eventually song leader. She gave back to her community as a leader of the FFA mother’s club, a member of the Noble County Town and Country Extension Club, and volunteered as a 4-H leader at Billings Public Schools. In 1989, Donna got to put her secretarial degree to work when she joined the team at Billings Fairchild Center and continued working there for 20 years. Though she gave much to her church, community and kids, it was evident that she gave her heart and devotion to Mike. She loved the time she spent milking with him, driving tractor and wheat truck for him, and enjoyed traveling and supporting him as he served our state in the Conservation Commission.

As impressive as this part of her life was, Donna really found her stride when she went from mom to “Memaw.” The farming homemaker life gave way to baby sitter and head of the grandbaby fan club. Neither distance or difficulty kept Memaw from attending recitals, sports events, dance competitions, stock shows, birthday parties, or graduations. Even in the midst of battling leukemia, she made sure to follow their accomplishments, comment on Facebook posts, buy birthday cards at the gift shop, and face-time as much as she could. She truly was a Memaw right up to the day that she left this world.

Of course, all of this was made possible because she loved and followed Jesus with every fiber of her being. For all that He gave her, she strived to glorify Him by passing on what love and wisdom she could. Because of that there is no doubt that she is present with God and rejoined to her husband, in Glory.

Besides her love Michael, Donna is preceded in Heaven by her brother Richard, and mother and father-in-law, Rex and Dona Rae Thralls. Those who await reunion with her, are her mother and father, Ray Gene and Libby Cinnamon, siblings, Eldon and Paula Cinnamon, Jean and Joe Surface, Nita and Ron Pope, Jonni Cinnamon and Debby and Bill Holloway. Her legacy continues in her children; son Raymond Thralls and wife Abby; son, Gregory Thralls and wife Sunny; daughter, Michele Stowers and husband Alan; daughter, Angela Reinschmiedt and husband Ben; son Derek Thralls and wife Crystal; and her grandchildren, Kathryn and Elizabeth Thralls; Michael Bryce Thralls and wife Logan; Kristian and Kaysun Thralls; John and Jalan Stowers; Addison, Ainslie, Braelyn, and Barron Reinschmiedt; Harrison Thralls & much anticipated baby brother. Also, aunts, uncles and numerous nephews, nieces, and cousins all of whom she greatly loved.

Funeral services will be Sunday, October 17th at Antelope Valley Church of the Brethren, Billings, OK at 3:00 PM with interment following at Polo Cemetery. Family visitation will be Saturday, October 16th 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home, Enid, OK.

Memorials can be made to Antelope Valley Church of the Brethren, The Mike Thralls Memorial Scholarship, and M.D. Anderson Cancer Research Center through Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home.

We would like to add, that in a time when there is a great shortage of available blood, Mom was a benefactor of those who gave so that others like her may live. As such, in her memory we strongly encourage all who read this to consider donating to the Oklahoma Blood Institute.