Coral Ann Freeman (O’Donnell), 91, of Mellette, South Dakota, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Friday, October 9, 2026, surrounded by her family at Ava’s House in Sioux Falls, SD.

A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at Schriver’s Memorial Chapel. Pastor Jay Rossman of Holy Cross Lutheran Church will officiate.

Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.

A time for fellowship and luncheon will follow the service at Schriver’s Memorial Fellowship Center.

Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is honored to serve the Freeman family. Friends and family may sign the online guestbook at www.schriversmemorial.com. Services will be recorded and posted on Schriver’s Facebook page following the service.

Coral Ann was born at home in Ashton, South Dakota, on October 8, 1935, to Louis and Stella (Heemstra) O’Donnell. She spent much of her childhood with her grandfather, Mike O’Donnell, and his wife, Olive O’Donnell (Rudning), who operated grocery stores first in Stratford and later in Mellette. Though Olive was not Coral’s biological grandmother, she helped shape Coral’s lifelong devotion to family.

Coral met her husband, Orrin, on a trail ride at Sica Hollow in 1952. She graduated from Mellette High School in 1953 and attended Northern State Teachers College for one year. She later completed airline stewardess training in Kansas City, Missouri, and loved flying.

Coral spent most of her life on the family farm near Mellette, which her parents purchased in 1948. She enjoyed playing the piano and had a lifelong love of music. She also loved horses, dogs, fishing, and the beauty of the natural world. Coral and Orrin cherished exploring the countryside together—watching nesting eagles along the James River, seeing the buffalo in Custer State Park, and setting out with their family on spur-of-the-moment adventures. She cared deeply about conservation and nature.

Coral and Orrin were married in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1955, while Orrin was serving in the military. They later moved to California, where Orrin was stationed at the Naval Ordnance Test Station at China Lake. In 1958, they returned to South Dakota, living in Aberdeen, Tyndall, and Doland before returning to the family farm, where Orrin coached and taught mathematics at Northwestern High School.

In retirement, Coral and Orrin traveled to national track meets across the country. Coral admired athletes and the dedication behind their accomplishments. The couple strongly supported the expanded opportunities for girls and women in athletics that followed Title IX. They supported the development of girls’ track and field in Tyndall and continued encouraging the sport in Doland and at Northwestern. Coral was also an ice-skating fan. They spent their winters at Circle L RV Park in Rio Hondo, Texas, where they made many good friends.

Throughout her life, Coral’s faith in her Lord and Savior was a source of strength and hope.

Coral is survived by her husband, Orrin; her children, Monty, Michelle, Melinda, and Michael; her seven grandchildren, Jessica, Summer, Matthew, Stephanie (Alex), Zachary (Rachel), Nicholas (Hailey), and Jessey; several great-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.

Coral was preceded in death by her parents, Louis and Stella O’Donnell; her sister, Joy; her infant brother, Michael; and her sons-in-law, Randy and Bob.