Donna Georgine Nelson

Donna Georgine Nelson died on Sunday, November 17, 2024 at the age of 88. Born on January 18, 1936 in Seattle, WA to Minnie and Edwin J. Moen, Donna lived her life in various regions of Washington State. Graduating from Lake Washington High School, Donna found a lifelong partner with Vernon Leroy Nelson and married on December 10, 1954. Together through 58 years of marriage, they raised their 5 children; Vernon Carl Nelson, George Wallace Nelson, Dana Lynn Nelson-Peterson, Thomas Gregory Nelson and John August Nelson. Together, they welcomed 13 grandchildren into their family with their children and their spouses and after Vern’s death in 2012, several great grandchildren have been added to the family-at least a dozen at this point and the family continues to grow!

Donna was devoted to raising her children and ensuring their success in life. She was a loving wife to Vernon and a loving parent to her children. In 1991, Donna and Vernon relocated to Soap Lake, a little town in Eastern Washington. Through the ensuing years, many of their family members migrated east towards them. As Donna’s health declined in her later years, she spent more time on the West side, and moved back to Monroe in the Fall of 2023 to be closer to many of her family members as well as her medical providers. Following a lovely evening with several of her family members, including her beloved little great granddaughter, Olivia who she referred to has her “little dolly”, she went to bed in what she frequently referred to as her “heavenly bed” in Dana’s home and died peacefully in her sleep in the early morning hours of Sunday, November 17th. Her life ended just as she had wanted it, quietly, peacefully in her bed!

Donna was an avid reader, loved a good game of Scrabble, enjoyed going on trips and being with her family. She loved the wildness of the ocean, especially around LaPush, as well as the annual camping trip to American River, a tradition that she instilled in her children and grandchildren. She loved to sit and visit over a cup of coffee and hear about everyone’s escapades and experiences and found great delight in all the detail that was shared with her. She was preceded in death by her husband Vernon, her brothers Edwin and George Moen and her granddaughter Brigetta Rose Peterson.

Grandma Donna will be missed by all who were fortunate enough to know her and we find solace with knowing she is together again with those who’s lives passed before her.