Doris’ Obituary Doris Ilene Macdonald, 79, of Rapid City, South Dakota, passed away February 10th, 2019. Doris was born to James Kenneth Leberknight and Helen Sarah née Lievan Leberknight, June 28th, 1939, in Rapid City, South Dakota. At the time her parents and older siblings, Phil, Jim, and Fern, lived in what was lovingly called the “Little Green House”, because the wood siding was stained green.
Doris attended the Whispering Pines grade school for the 1st grade and part of the 2nd. Then her family moved to the Sander’s Ranch located near Norris Peak and she attended the Pinkerton Grade school. She rode her horse to the one-room country school, where one teacher taught all eight grades.
Doris told stories about driving a pick-up truck at the age of seven. She used wood blocks strapped to the pedals to drive as her older brothers threw hay bales in the back. When Doris was in the 7th grade, the family moved to Nemo, SD.
At the time, the family had a small ranch where they lived during the summers. Her family then moved to Rapid City, where Doris graduated from Rapid City High School. She graduated with a degree in Education from what is now Black Hills State University.
Doris also obtained her Masters in Art from the University of Alabama. During her years at Black Hills State, she was on the swim and dive team. She maintained her diving skills into her 40’s, when she astounded her children by skillfully diving into a family-favorite swimming hole in the hills.
Doris was the mother to four children: Carol Renee Macdonald, Brian Stuart Macdonald, Kristi Lynn Macdonald Collins, and Barry Craig Macdonald and his wife Katherine. She also leaves, to cherish her memory, 11 grandchildren: Allister Macdonald, Carissa Collins Berry, Helen Collins, Sophia Collins, Ian Collins, Rachel Macdonald, Sarah Macdonald, Rebekah Macdonald, Benjamin Macdonald, Jacob Macdonald and Joshua Macdonald. She also leaves her living siblings: Jim Leberknight, Gary Leberknight, Fern Marlow and Alice Leberknight.
Her children remember her as creative, adventurous, determined, and independent. She was preceded in death by her parents James Kenneth Leberknight and Helen Sarah née Lievan Leberknight, and her siblings Phil Leberknight and Wayne Leberknight. Doris was a both an experienced teacher and talented artist.
Her true passion was art. She developed unique ceramic techniques and was a skilled potter. Doris’s iconic Raku pottery and wall hangings sold in art galleries, and at festivals and shows throughout the Black Hills.
Tourists loved her designs featuring bison, elk and bears. She also pioneered a glazing technique that creates a crystalline pattern with brilliant colors. Throughout her years as an art teacher in the Rapid City schools, Doris taught hundreds of children how to weave, paint, create pottery and much more.
In her final days she continued to paint watercolor pieces and develop new techniques such as the “acrylic pour” process which resulted in compelling abstract art forms. Doris had what might be called a free spirit. Experimenting and learning were a part of her daily life.
She now can continue exploring on a much grander stage, without having to cope with a worn-out body. The service is scheduled at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, February 16th , at Rimrock Evangelical Free Church. A luncheon reception will follow at the same location.
Her dear friend Michael Altstiel will officiate the ceremony. The family requests that donations be made to Camp Hallawasa where Doris enjoyed being a camp counselor. Donations can be made at hallawasa.com/checkout/donate?
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