Langfeldt named Loyal Citizen of the Year

By Valorie Brecht Being able to give to and receive from her community has brought much joy and fulfillment to Donna Langfeldt’s life. At the Loyal Chamber of Commerce Banquet last Thursday, Donna was honored for her contributions to the community through being named Loyal’s Citizen of the Year for 2024.

“I’m so lucky to be able to call her my friend. There’s no one more deserving of this 2024 Citizen of the Year award,” said Dawn Jacobson, who has frequently worked with Donna when she volunteers at the Loyal American Legion.

Donna’s roots in the community go deep. She moved to Loyal from rural Colby at the age of 12. Her parents purchased the Gamble hardware store business and ran it for several years. Donna graduated from Loyal High School in 1960 and married her husband Herb, also from Loyal, in 1961. From October 1961 to July 1962, she and her husband lived in Tacoma, Wash., as Herb served in the National Guard and was called to Fort Lewis during the Berlin Crisis. After that, they returned to Loyal where they resided ever since.

Donna has always been involved in the community in one way or another. Her husband ran a construction business, Loyal Builders, from 1974 to 2000, building 35 homes in Clark County, many of them in Loyal. Donna did the bookwork and ran errands for the business, getting to know many people in the area along the way.

While taking care of their four children, Donna taught CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) classes at St. Anthony Catholic Church. In the 1980s, Donna and her husband took over the Loyal shoe store, formerly owned by Jack and Grace Pribnow, and ran it as the Loyal Bootery for about five years.

Herb became sick in his later years after being diagnosed with cancer and suffering a stroke, and Donna spent the majority of her time taking care of him. He passed away in 2015.

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“After he died, I felt kind of lost. I didn’t have him to take care of and my kids were all grown up and moved away,” said Donna.

Upon the encouragement of a good friend, Donna decided to get more involved in the community to help her move forward and find purpose in this new season of life.

“I started going back to (Legion) Auxiliary meetings,” said Donna.

During COVID, she and fellow Auxiliary members volunteered their time to revamp the Legion building, which was in need of attention. They deep-cleaned the building from top to bottom and repainted the interior.

“There was a group of us that was in there every day and we got it into shape again,” said Donna.

She also volunteered at the American Red Cross blood drives at the Legion for “a number of years,” checking on donors and providing them sandwiches and snacks. She regularly waitressed for Legion events and continues to help in the kitchen. She also has served as membership chairperson, chaplain and now historian for the Legion Auxiilary.

In addition, she and her husband were charter members of the Loyal Area Historical Society. She served as secretary for a number of years and has been president for the last four-plus years. She leads tours of the museum, helps get the property ready for events like the annual “Home for Christmas” and keeps the public informed of what’s happening at the museum. She also collects and organizes donations to the museum. She coordinated the one-room schoolhouse replica project, which was finished in 2022.

“I don’t do things alone. There’s gotta be helpers. I have so many helpers I can call on when I need something,” said Donna. “It was a wonderful thing to have all the community support. The town came together to support this schoolhouse project like you wouldn’t believe.”

In addition, Donna serves as the secretary of the Loyal Housing Authority for the Thomas Street Apartments, which went through major renovations last year. She also helps out at St. Anthony Church, taking care of the linens and singing in the choir for funerals.

Donna was taken completely by surprise to receive the Citizen of the Year award, and felt honored because of how much the community means to her.

“I don’t know what to say. I can’t believe it,” said Donna. “I’m truly blessed by this town, my family and the people in my life.”

Donna joins her husband in being honored, as he received Citizen of the Year in 1988.

Donna and Herb had four children: Michael, who now lives in Crete, Neb.; Michelle of Neenah; Margie of Oostburg; and Mandi of Stockbridge. Donna also has nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Donna will receive an honored spot in this year’s Corn Festival parade.

VALORIE BRECHT/STAFF PHOTOS