Donna Jean Peters, 70
Donna Jean Peters, 70, passed away on the beautiful morning of June 5, 2017. She was in the comfort of her home and surrounded by very close family, her good friend Joanne, and Pastor Mike.
Donna was born in Denver on Nov. 14, 1946, to Elsie and Don Rose. She attended school and graduated from Arvada High. During her school years, Donna spent many summers in Wild Horse, Colorado, living on the farm of her aunt, uncle and cousins where she made many wonderful memories.
Shortly after high school, she met and married Michael C. Peters and they welcomed the birth of their son, Tracy. They then welcomed their son, Don, and later, daughter Shelly. Donna worked at the University of Colorado Health/Science as a secretary until 1980 when they moved their family to Fairplay, Colorado. Moving from city life, to small town country, it was there where she became active in involving her kids in sports activities, 4-H and rodeo. She loved riding horses, raising ranch animals and teaching her kids about hard work and responsibility. Some of her best times were spent packing in to Buffalo Peaks and setting up camp with family and friends. In 1984, she started working in the ticket department at the Breckenridge Ski Area and, in 1992, she worked in the purchasing department at Beaver Run Resort. In 2005, she and her husband moved to Buena Vista, Colorado, where they stayed until moving to Kalispell in 2007. Shortly after moving to Montana, Donna lost her husband of 41 years. The following winter, she took off with her dog Tess, truck and camper and went to Arizona where she made many new friends, met up with past friends and gained so many wonderful memories. It was during her time in Arizona, that she met her last partner in love, Ron Conlin. She loved being in the warm air and sunshine! In the spring, she ventured home to spend her summers camping, boating, planting beautiful flowers and spending time with family and friends. She loved working with beads and made many strands of “Angel Beads” to give out to anyone that she thought needed an angel nearby. She was honored to deliver many of them to the oncology center for patients battling cancer.
Donna was preceded in death by her parents, husband Michael, and granddaughter Caitlin.
She is survived by her loving partner, Ron Conlin, of Kalispell; sister, Marlene Rose-Briggs, and her husband, Tim, of Broomfield, Colorado; her son, Tracy Peters, of Mobridge, South Dakota; son, Don Peters, and wife Rae, of Pueblo, Colorado; and daughter, Shelly Olbert, and her husband, Paul, of Kalispell; and grandchildren Jessica, Nick, Brandon, Jamie, Kristen, Matt, Steven, Eric and Cale. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and great-grandchildren.
A celebration of life will be held at 3 p.m. on Friday, June 16, at Valley Community Church of God, 2149 Hwy. 2 East, Kalispell. There will be an open house and meal afterwards at Donna and Ron’s home located at 655 Pebble Drive, Kalispell.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Donna’s name to Valley Community Church at P.O. Box 5128, Kalispell, MT 59901, or an animal shelter of your choice.