Madonna "Donna" Kathryn Larson

Madonna Kathryn "Donna" Larson (Herner) was born in Mott, North Dakota on May 17, 1932 and died on September 24, 2014. Donna graduated from Mott High School and graduated at the top of the class at Aakers Business School in Grand Forks, ND. She moved to Spokane where she met Joe, her husband of 59 years. Joe and Donna moved to Federal Way with their three sons in 1967 and Donna worked at Mirror Lake Elementary School when her children were younger. Donna then worked as the office manager for Federal Construction, a company that built many of the commercial buildings and schools in the region. She would finish her working life serving as bookkeeper for David A. Larson, P.S. until retiring in 2001. Donna also volunteered her time and she was integral in the success and growth of Federal Way Little League in the 1970s serving as Women's Auxiliary President for a number of years. She was also heavily involved in PTA serving in various leadership roles while her children were in school. Donna was a member of St. Vincent de Paul Parish since 1967. Family, Love, and Faith were very important to Donna as she would show throughout her life most recently becoming the primary caregiver for her beloved husband Joe during his seven year battle with Parkinson’s until his death at home on February 2, 2013.

Her three sons and three daughter-in-laws, Mark and Sherri (Dobson) Larson of Auburn, WA, Dave and Debby (Berntson) Larson of Federal Way, WA, and Todd and Sandy (Eagan) Larson of Auburn, WA survive Donna. She is also survived by eight grandchildren, Nicole Millus (Nick Millus) of Covington, WA, Shane Larson (Erin Ferrill) of Seattle, WA, Amanda Larson of Covington, WA, Kaitlin Larson of Auburn, WA, Andrew Larson of Ellensburg, WA, Zachary Larson of Auburn, WA, Riley Larson of Auburn, WA, Joshua Larson of Federal Way, WA, and one great-grandchild, Austin Millus of Covington, WA. Sisters Marjorie Hopewell of Spokane and Mercedes Fraase of Tacoma, WA, as well as two brothers, Gabriel (Sheila) Herner of Kirkland and George (Delores) Herner of Mount Vernon, and brothers-in law Lawrence Hoerner of Grand Coulee WA, and Ron Berry of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, also survive her.

She is also survived by in-laws Allan and Teresa Larson of Juda, WI, and Doug and Nancy Larson of Browntown, WI, JoAnn Wilde of Monroe, WI, Mary Erickson of Blanchardville, WI, and Brenda Larson of Neosho, MO. Aunt Donna was also loved and respected by 83 nieces and nephews, 94 great nieces and nephews, and 24 great great nieces and nephews at the time of her death.

In addition to her husband Joe, her father and mother Frank and Elizabeth Herner as well as her daughter Kathryn precede her in death. She is also preceded in death by in-laws Luther Larson and Ingeborg Larson, as well as eight sisters (Eleanor Herner, Rose Hoerner, Lena Cheney, Deanne Berry, Terry Green, Bette Jones, Berta Burkhart, and Lois Bacon), one brother (Frank Herner, Jr.), sister-in law Joan Herner, ten brother-in-laws (Duane Erickson, Lee Wilde, Merle Jones, Myron Green, Fred Fraase, Reid Hopewell, Howard Cheney, Walter Bacon, Richard Larson, and Don Larson), sister-in-law Christine Larson, two nieces (Kelly Moen and Debbie Durgan) and three nephews (Greg Green, Chad Bacon, and Matt Jones).

A Vigil will be held at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church at 30525 8th Avenue South on Friday October 3, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. A Catholic Burial Mass will be held at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Parish on October 4, 2014 at St. Vincent de Paul. A committal service will be held at 2:00 pm at Gethsemane Catholic Cemetery in Federal Way following a reception at the church.