Donald M. Branson
Donald M. Branson, age 90, of Brandon, passed away Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at the Good Samaritan Center in Sioux Falls, surrounded by his family.
The family will be present to greet friends for visitation on Sunday, September 28, 2025 at George Boom Funeral Chapel in Brandon, SD, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm with Liturgical Wake Service beginning at 3:30 pm. Funeral Mass will begin at 10:00 am on Monday, September 29, 2025 at Risen Savior Catholic Church in Brandon. Interment will be in the Hills of Rest Cemetery in Sioux Falls.
Donald Branson was born in Sioux Falls at home to Hartley and Anna (Mathieu) Branson November 4, 1934. He came into this world in the basement of the unfinished house his father was building. The same house on North Cliff Avenue that he’d grown up in, lived in with his young family until he established himself as a barber, and the same house his mother would die in. He was born on his sister, Darlene Marie’s 8th birthday, so she had the honor of naming him, Donald Mervin.
Don also had two older brothers, Cornelius (Corney) and Hartley (Bud). “Donnie” or “Win Penney” as he was called then, attended Riverside, Franklin, Whittier, and Washington Elementary, Junior and high schools in Sioux Falls, then joined the United States Army after a brief time playing “cowboy” and riding the local rodeo circuit as a bareback rider to earn money to help support his divorced mother. He was stationed in Chicago area of Illinois where he met Gwendalyn (Gwen) Bierle in December of 1955, on a blind date. They married the following year and celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary September 1, 2025.
Don attended barber school in Illinois, after his discharge from the Army and started his career. A decision to raise his young family in a better environment than Chicago, had him and Gwen moving back to Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He opened his own business and named it “Don’s Barber Shop”. It was located on North Cliff Avenue in Sioux Falls, for many years. He never really retired as he was still cutting customers’ hair up until he was hospitalized. He often said, “Why should I retire? I have the best boss in the world!” He often went to the hospital and nursing home after hours to cut customers’ hair who had become ill. He was a very caring person, helping where he could. He would stop to help strangers whose cars had broken down or pick up hitchhikers who needed a ride. That attitude led him to join the Brandon Volunteer Fire Department when he moved his family of four children to Brandon, South Dakota, a growing community outside of Sioux Falls, in January of 1966. He became an EMT thru the Fire Department’s training.
In 1996, when Don felt he was getting too old to handle the physical demands of firefighting, he shifted his efforts to help starting up the Brandon Post American Legion and getting a Veteran’s Memorial built in the town. He was very proud of that memorial.
For a time, he was a member of the Moose Lodge and the Sioux Valley Saddle Club. Riding a favorite horse, “Amigo” in local horse shows or “play days” on summer weekends was a favorite pastime while his kids were growing up.
He also loved to fish and dance at the street and fireman dances with Gwen. On a few occasions he would go hunting. Early in his marriage, with the urging of Gwen, Don was baptized and became a dedicated member of the Risen Savior Catholic Church once it was built in Brandon.
Thankful for sharing his life is his devoted wife, Gwen of Brandon; his children, Deb (Paschal) Karl of Dunnellon, Florida, Donnie (Jeanette) Branson of Mountain Home, Arkansas, Donna D’Amico of Seabeck, Washington (temporarily: Germany), and Dave (Donna) Branson of Sioux Falls; grandchildren, Sarah Jeffers, Mike Branson, Jeff Branson, Mark Branson, and Gary Duncan; step-granddaughters, Tina Hemmingson, Jody Gibbens, and Wendy Mcrunnels; 24 great-grandchildren; and 5 great great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, Hartley Branson and Anna Tripp; and siblings, Cornelius Branson, Hartley Branson, and Darlene Langdon.