Our beautiful loving Mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, Donna Mae passed away October 17, 2011 at the age of 80. She fought a courageous battle with cancer. She was born in Longview, Washington to William Merton and Winnie Belle Steele Crittenden on April 8, 1931. She enjoyed growing up near her grandparents and playing in the woods near her home. She loved the Washington coast area. Her family moved to the Nampa area in 1946. Mom graduated from Nampa High School. She married Ward David Bettis on May 28, 1951 and later divorced.
On March 4, 1967, Mom married William Leon Morgan in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. Together they blended their families and created a wonderful home for us in Nampa. It was a home filled with love, fun and laughter. Mom enjoyed playing the piano, accordion and singing. She made the best apple pies and enjoyed her garden. She also enjoyed working on cross word puzzles and reading.
Mom was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She diligently fulfilled various church callings. She found great peace and comfort in visiting and serving in the Boise LDS Temple.
Our mother will be missed deeply, but we celebrate her life, her compassion, her tenderness and her tireless devotion to others. Our memories of her are filled with love, knowing that this life is a small step in God’s eternal plan of happiness and she will enjoy the fruits and peace of a good life until we meet again.
Donna is survived by her children: Connie (Perry) Tolman, Billee Leigh (Lynn) Barnhill, Cindy (Steve) Whitaker, David (Angie) Bettis, Debra (Kirt) Beecher, Robert Morgan, Byron (Dixie) Morgan, Maureen (Mike) James, Tracy (Donovan) Bosworth, Trudy (David) Chappell. She leaves a legacy of 35 grandchildren and 39 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brothers: Freddie (Cindy) Weber, Hubert, and Robert, sisters: Sallee (Paul) Oakes, Connie (Layne) Hadlock, Margy (Chris) Pfeifer, Sharon, Carol Ann, Celeste and Rhonda. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, five brothers, a sister and one grandson.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, October 19th at the Nampa Idaho North LDS Stake Center,6111 Birch Lane, Nampa. There will be a viewing held from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, October 18th at the Zeyer Funeral Chapel, 83 N Midland Blvd in Nampa and at the church from 11:30 to 12:45 p.m. Wednesday prior to the funeral service. The interment will take place at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens.
Donna has requested that donations be made to the General Missionary Fund of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
A very special thank you to her Nampa33rd ward family, Dr. Agee and Dr. Pulver.
We already miss you Mom, but know that you are being welcomed by your family on the other side. We look forward to that future happy reunion when we will all be together. May the Lord bless you and keep you until we meet again.