Maria “Toni” McDonough

A Celebration of Life for 61-year old Toni McDonough of Chadron and Gordon, NE, will be held July 4, 2023, at 2:00 at the Whitney Lake House (follow the signs from Chadron). 

Bring your campers (no hook-ups), tents, and fireworks to celebrate Toni’s life with family and friends.

The family suggests memorials to the Maria McDonough Fund at Homestead Bank, Venmo at Stacy-Wohlers, CashApp$SWohlers, or by mail to Stacy Wohlers, 230 Hough Road, Crawford, NE 69339. 

All memorials will go towards cleaning up, mowing, and maintaining the Whitney Lake house, for her Celebration of Life, and for her nieces and nephews.

Online condolences may be left at chamberlainchapel.com.

Maria Antoinette “Toni” McDonough was born May 10, 1961, in San Jose, CA, to Martin John III and Jacqueline Yvonne (Rizzo) McDonough. She passed away April 8, 2023, at her home. 

Toni attended Chadron Schools and graduated from Chadron High School in 1979.

Our beautiful Toni left us all too soon, but we will always remember her warm love and joyfulness for life! Toni truly loved her family and dear friends. Toni didn’t know a stranger, giving hugs and visiting all whom she knew. 

Toni’s heart was spiritual, which was evident in the way she cared for those who were overlooked or flung aside. Toni had a huge heart for children, whom you could always find sitting on her lap. 

Toni lived primitively with Rynn at their home on Whitney Lake for over 20 years, where she loved the water, swimming and dancing on the beach, sunrises, sunsets, and hosting many friends and family for 4th of “Buly” gatherings. 

She always considered herself blessed and lucky to have close family and friends. She lived a joyful life!

Toni was a hard worker from a very young age. She had a paper route, worked in retail and fast food and then worked at Chadron State College. Later she hunted, restored, and painted fossils with her beloved Rynn, all while caring for the elderly, cleaning homes and businesses. 

She was always volunteering as well. Lastly, she worked for several years for Pine Ridge Trading and Oil in Pine Ridge, SD. In the Traditionz Gift and Clothing Shop, where she adored her bosses, Bat and Patty Pourier, her co-workers, and the folks of Pine Ridge and surrounding areas.

Toni is survived by her sisters Michelle Myers (Donnie), Stacy Wohlers (Wallace), Kori Wurangian (Jason); nieces and nephews Joseph Servin (Caitlin), Johnna Barnes (Tim), Katherine Marxelly (Omar), Benjamin Criss (Alyssa), Bethany Shiel (Kory), Jordon Myers (Kaitlyn); 14 great-nieces and nephews and many, many friends.

Toni was preceded in death by her mother Jacqueline (Rizzo) Strong; father Martin John McDonough III; stepfather Dean Strong; brother Martin John McDonough IV; Grandmother Bernice Rizzo (Stacy) and the love of her life, Rynn Hollrah.

Honorary Pallbearers are Luna Servin, Wyatt Planansky, Addelyn Planansky, Rory Barnes, Cecilia Marxelly, Emerita Marxelly, Traeson Criss, Ella Myers, Izzac Myers, Ezra Shiel, Kinsley Myers, Zuriel Myers, and Izaiah Myers.