Donna Mae Bebber

Donna Mae Severson Bebber, 99, of Lakeland, Florida, passed away peacefully on March 12, 2025, with loved ones by her side.

Donna was born on December 12, 1925, in Soldier, Iowa.

Donna graduated with her bachelor’s degree from Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa, and her Master’s Degree in Business Management from the University of Alabama. There, she met the love of her life, Howard Bebber. Donna taught college before she and Howard relocated to Lakeland, Florida.

In Lakeland, Donna and Howard planted their roots and raised their pride and joy, Debbie. Donna was a homemaker, spending all her time with Howard and Debbie and Debbie’s friends, her “honorary children.” She was a lifelong learner and a master seamstress, lover of card and board games, reading, dancing, singing in the choir, shoes, chocolate, popcorn, lefse, and taking her grandchildren and their friends on many adventures – some of Ansley and Hunter’s favorite childhood memories were spent with Donna. Donna also loved Alabama and University of Florida sports, good jokes, and giving back to her community.

Donna was so accomplished, but she always said her greatest accomplishment was raising a caring, smart, and devoted nurse in Debbie. She also loved her granddaughters, Ansley and Hunter, and her other honorary grandchildren. She was everyone’s biggest cheerleader and proudly told everyone she was “Tennis Grams.”

Donna was preceded in death by Howard and is survived by her daughter Debbie (Brant), granddaughters Ansley (Dennis) and Hunter (Greg), many nieces and nephews, and Niles Stewart and his family.

A graveside service will take place at Oak Hill Burial Park on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Donna’s honor to Alliance for Independence (https://afi-fl.org).