Donna Kay Holbein

Donna Kay Holbein, age 75, peacefully went to be with her heavenly family on November 22, 2022 at Brookestone Gardens in Kearney, Nebraska.

Donna was born in Lexington, Nebraska on February 5, 1947 to Archie E. and Mary E. (Williamson) Petersen. Donna graduated from Lexington High School in 1965. She graduated from Queen Anne School of Beauty in Kearney, Nebraska in 1966.

On April 24, 1966 she married her soulmate and partner for life, Dale Edward Holbein, of Overton. To their union they had three children, Denise Kay, Daryn Eugene and Dahlas Dale.  Donna was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, friend, business owner and well-loved community member.  Donna was side by side with Dale through every step of their journey. Dale and Donna, Donna and Dale – you could not say one without the other.

After graduating from beauty school, Donna owned and operated LaPetite Beauty Salon in Lexington with Dale.  They later opened Milady Beauty Bar in Lexington where she continued to work as a hairstylist for nearly 40 years.  Donna and Dale also owned Craftique which later became Awards Plus of Lexington. Donna loved her work with the Dawson County Fairgrounds where she worked with Dale and his business partners to build the Dawson County Raceway in 1969. She was the woman behind the scenes working alongside Dale to manage the Dawson County Fairgrounds for fifteen years. She loved the Dawson County Fair and made life-long friends from talent agents to the carnival owners to fellow fair managers and board members from across the state.

Donna was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Lexington. She was a member of the Lexington Mrs. Jaycees and served as the State president.  Donna was a proud firefighter wife and mother for more than 55 years, supporting Dale, Dahlas and Daryn as they served the community as members of the Lexington Volunteer Fire Department. She was a member of Lexington Ladies Volunteer Fire Department Auxillary. She also worked for the City of Lexington doing fire and rescue reports for the department.

Donna was creative and loved to try new craft projects, design special awards for her customers, or make unique keepsakes for those she loved. She enjoyed playing cards with her friends and family; and watching all kinds of stock car racing. Her family was the most important thing in her life.  She loved her children and having the family together for supper, a family celebration or spending time at the race track. But Donna’s greatest joy was definitely being Grandma! Carson and Ava were the pride and joy of her life. Whether it was golf cart rides and McDonald’s breakfast with Carson or doing crafts and building Legos with Ava, she loved every minute of being a Grandma. Carson and Ava made her eyes light up no matter how she was feeling. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dale Holbein; parents, Archie and Mary Petersen; father and mother-in-law Edward and Esther (Hansen) Holbein; three grandchildren, Carter Edward, Caden Eugene, and Hadee Marie Holbein.

Left to celebrate her life are her children, Dahlas and Amy (Wolsleben) Holbein of Lexington; Daryn and Nicole (Armagost) Holbein of Okmulgee, OK; and Denise and Greg Behrends of Hastings, NE; her grandchildren Carson and Ava Holbein of Lexington; brother-in-law Dean and Barbara Holbein of Prosper, TX; her nephews and nieces; cousins; and numerous friends.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, November 27, 2022, from 5-7 p.m. at Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington, Nebraska.

Funeral Service will be held on Monday, November 28, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington with Pastor Rex Adams officiating. Lunch will follow at the Lexington Volunteer Fire Hall.

Memorials are kindly suggested to Lexington Volunteer Fire Department or Children’s Hospital of Omaha.

Dale and Donna’s inurnment service will be held on Tuesday, November 29, 2022, at 3:00 p.m. at Greenwood Cemetery in Lexington, Nebraska.

Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is honored to be assisting the family with arrangements.  Please share online condolences with the family by visiting: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com