Joseph (Joe) William McDonald was born in Rapid City, SD on October 7, 1960, to John (Jack) and Sonya (Chercus) McDonald. He was their fifth child. Joe spent most of his life in the Rapid City area. He graduated from Rapid City Central High School. He followed in his father’s footsteps as a meat cutter, starting with skinning deer at the D&P Meat Market on Omaha Street after school. He worked alongside his dad at Jack’s Meat Market, Black Hills Packing Plant and then Dakota Mart in Sturgis for many years before finishing his career at Family Fare on St. Patrick Street. Joe took great pride in his skill as a meat cutter and was pleased to teach his great nephew, Nathan, the trade.

Joe enjoyed Nascar, pool league, football, smoking meat and drinking beer. Joe and Karen took a trip to Kansas City to take in a car race. Karen and Joe each had their favorite drivers.

Joe passed away from Lou Gehrig’s (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) disease on January 2, 2024. True to his nature, he was very resilient, determined and never complained. His voice was the first thing that left him and he used a tablet to communicate. Spelling was not his strong suit, but he had hand signals to make up for his lost voice. Joe was his life partner, Karen Carpenter’s, caregiver after her stroke in 2013. Even after his diagnoses in May of 2022, he made sure Karen was taken care of by doing laundry, making meals, getting her to doctor appointments and cleaning house. Karen passed away in August 2023 and Joe was left with taking care of himself. He was able to stay at home until his death. The last place he wanted to be was in the hospital. Monument Home Hospice team and family played an important role in that. He was planning to go to Timber Lake to stay with his sister, Chris Hermes, just days before his death. God had other plans and we are so glad he does not have to struggle anymore.

Joe has a daughter, Sara (Roseland) Calvetti. She was a happy surprise and he enjoyed watching her grow into the competent and confident woman she is today. Joe is survived by his daughter, Sara (Shawn) Calvetti, sister Chris (Tom) Hermes and brother John \'Jack\' (Mary) McDonald Jr., nieces Rochelle (Nathan) Ryks, Angela (Andrew) Kelly, Salena McDonald, Jackie (Leo) Elle, Melissa (Mike) McDonald, Travis (Ali) McDonald, Shaun (Jennifer) Hermes, Drew (Amanda) Hermes, Daniel (Stacy) McDonald, Amy McDonald, Jenny McDonald, Ben McDonald, Jacob McDonald, Thomas (Angel) McDonald, Dusti (Scott) Cummins, Chrissy (Mike) Stanley, Dennis McDonald; numerous great nieces, nephews and cousins.

Joe was preceded in death by his father, John (Jack) McDonald Sr., brothers Mike and Tim McDonald, and life partner Karen Carpenter.