Doris M. Kono, age 96 of Sioux Falls, passed away on November 6, 2025, at Ponderosa Lodge Senior Living, Sioux Falls. Memorial services will be held at 10:00 A.M. with a visitation one hour before on Saturday, November 22, 2025, at George Boom Funeral Home & On-Site Crematory, 3408 E. 10th St., Sioux Falls, S.D., with Reverend Marcus Brooks officiating. Interment will be at Collins Cemetery 19138 427th Ave., Willow Lake, S.D.
Doris was born near Willow Lake, S.D., on August 24, 1929, to Herman and Hannah (Wright) Seefeldt. She grew up in a small farmhouse along with two brothers and six sisters. Doris graduated from Willow Lake High School. She married and lived on a farm near Willow Lake. Along with raising her five children, she always worked alongside her family whether throwing bales of hay or feeding animals. She also enjoyed baking and hosting the neighbor kids for sledding parties after which. Everyone enjoyed her homemade bread or cinnamon rolls. Her children's birthdays were celebrated with blueberry pie, another family tradition. In 1969, the family moved to Sioux Falls, and in 1972, she divorced.
In 1970, Doris went to work for Sencore Electronics in the stockroom and then later in the office. While at Sencore and being a single parent, she managed to raise her children and held down additional part-time jobs.
In 1985, she was united in marriage to Robert (Bob) Kono. After retirement in 1995, their travels included a trip to Europe as well as multiple Caribbean cruises. However, she did not remain idle for long and took a part-time job at a local grocery store. They shared a wonderful life of dancing, traveling and attending grandchildren's events.
Doris had numerous hobbies such as knitting, crocheting, gardening, canning and quilting for her family. She also donated several quilts to the Children's Inn. Ever the baseball fan, she loved watching the Minnesota Twins, even when they lost. A highlight of the week was having bagels on Saturday morning with family.
She was also a member of the First Congregational Church in Willow Lake, then Sioux Falls as well as First Presbyterian Church. Offices held Past Worthy Matron of Eastern Star, Past Bethel Guardian of Bethel #38 for Job's Daughters and Lifetime VFW Auxiliary.
In 2018, she moved to Ponderosa Retirement Living in Sioux Falls. Doris was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Kono; daughter Jill Beatty; parents Herman and Hannah Seefeldt; and her sisters, Alice Seefeldt, Violet Mundhenke, Marjorie White, Frances Potter and Beverly Armfield; brothers Leo and Arvard Seefeldt; and a step-daughter-in-law, Barb Kono.
She is survived by children, George (Ruby) Holborn of Bryant, Roger Holborn of Cheyenne, Wyo., Alice (Charles Welsh) Holborn of San Francisco, Calif., Mary Ellen (Tom) Kloiber of Parker, Colo.; her step-children, Chuck Kono, Gary (Jo) Kono and Lori (Bruce) Hanson; her sister, Virginia Abild; 10 grandchildren, six step-grandchildren, 11-great-grandchildren, 10 step-great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren and one step-great-grandchild; and many nieces and nephews.
The family of Doris Kono appreciates your presence, for your thoughts, prayers, other acts of kindness shown to them and the care that she received at the Ponderosa Lodge Senior Living.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in memory of Doris Kono to Children's Inn — Home Shelter for Family Safety, 113 N. St. Paul Ave., Sioux Falls, S.D. 57103 or chssd.org/support/donate.
