Donald C. Mason

Donald Mason, age 62, passed away suddenly, leaving behind a family who adored him, a legacy of quiet strength, and a lifetime of selfless love. Don was a simple man and a man of faith. The kind of person who never needed the newest or the best for himself but gave everything he had to the people he loved. A funeral service will be held for Donald on April 28, 2025 at 10:00am at George Boom Funeral Home in Sioux Falls, SD. A visitation will be held the evening prior from 2-4pm at George Boom Funeral Home.

Donald was a devoted truck driver for 14 years. He met the love of his life, Tracy, at Red Lobster in Sioux Falls in 1986. A whirlwind romance—married just a month later, with only a motorcycle and a heart full of hope—turned into nearly 39 years of unwavering devotion. They built a life in Sioux Falls, Sioux City, and finally Brookings, raising three kids along the way: Curtis (37), Carrie Knips (33, married to Matt), and Matthew (27, married to Kelly). Don and Tracy were a team in every sense, weathering life’s storms together. In the later years, as Tracy’s health declined, Don became her constant support—caring for her with a level of love and patience that words cannot capture. His devotion was quiet, fierce, and endless.

Don was immensely proud of his children. He celebrated Curtis’s graduation from Southeast Tech and his nine years of sobriety with quiet pride and deep respect. He was proud of the mother Carrie became and her beautiful family. He admired Matthew’s strength and the life he was building with his wife. His pride was never loud—but it was present in every story he told, every brag to a neighbor, and every smile he gave when talking about his kids. 

Don was a grandfather to two granddaughters, Macy and Marlee, and recently found out he had a grandson on the way—his first boy. He was thrilled, already beaming with pride at just the idea of meeting him. His family was everything and he made sure they knew it.

He was not flashy, but he was rich in the things that matter most. Honesty, loyalty, kindness. He did not have patience for people who treated others poorly, and had no time for dishonesty. What he did have time for was his family, his neighbors, his wife’s hand in his, and giving without ever expecting anything in return. If you needed help, Don would show up—no questions asked.

Don’s life cannot be summed up by titles or achievements. It is etched in the quiet moments; in the way he looked after his wife, in the way he made his kids feel safe, in the way he lived with a stubborn kind of goodness that the world needs more of. He was one of a kind. And to those who knew him, loved him, and were loved by him, that was more than enough. He became a husband unlike any other, a father who gave endlessly, and a man whose character could fill a room without needing to say a word.

He leaves behind his wife Tracy; his children: Curtis, Carrie (Matt), and Matthew (Kelly), granddaughters Macy and Marlee, and one grandson on the way. He also leaves behind two brothers: Logan Mason and Doug Kettle. He also leaves behind a community of friends and family who will miss his laugh, his heart, and his unwavering loyalty.

There will never be another Don Mason. And for those of us lucky enough to be loved by him, we wouldn’t want there to be.