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Danette Thomason, 74, "Nettie" to hundreds of her "daycare kids" for  over 50 years in Hettinger, ND, passed away at the West River Regional Medical Center.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, November 18, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. MT at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Hettinger, ND.  Fr. Greg Hilzendeger and Fr. Kerry Prendiville will officiate and burial will follow at the Hettinger Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, November 17, followed by a Rosary at 7:00 p.m. all at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Hettinger.

Danette "Nettie" Marie Thomason (Mort) was born in Hettinger, ND on August 14, 1949 to Lowell C and Bessie (Prendiville) Mort. She was raised in the Ralph, SD area with her sister Geri while attending several grade schools taught by their mother. She attended 2 years of High School at St Mary's in New England, ND. Nettie attended 2 years at Southern States Academy while taking care of Grandpa and Grandma Prendiville and studying for her GED.

In March of 1966 she moved back to Hettinger and began working as a housekeeper at the hospital. She then was transferred to the nursing home to continue working as a housekeeper and later started working as a CNA. Then, in 1975, she opened Danette's Wee Ones. She spent the next 48 years caring for, guiding, and nurturing countless children until her death.

Danette was united in marriage to Louis Thomason on April 8, 1972 and they were married for 20 years. They later divorced. They welcomed their son Lowell Clayton on May 11, 1976. He was soon followed by Brandy Joe on September 5, 1979.

She enjoyed visiting her family in Minot, Minnesota, and Iowa. One of Netties favorite things was her many shopping trips with her friends. But her one true passion was her daycare kids and their families.

Danette is survived by her two sons Lowell Thomason of Byron, Minnesota and Brandy (Sarah) Thomason of Indianola, Iowa; Niece Sonja (Andrew) Meier of Minot, ND; 6 grandchildren; Kevin, Maxwell, Simon, Bri, Chayanne, and Isaiah; one great nephew, Lukus (Gabbey) and one great niece, Kinnlee "Lulu". She was preceded in death by her parents, Lowell and Bessie (Prendiville) Mort and her sister and brother-in-law, Duane and Geri (Mort) Huether.