Our much loved mom, grandma, sister, and aunt, Donna Maxine Armour Klenk, (aka Gorgeous, Gram Cracker, Grammy Cakes, D-Max, and The Masked Marvel) left this life on November 24, 2018, at age 93. She passed away peacefully, surrounded by her beloved family.
Donna was born March 28, 1925, in Salt Lake City, UT, to William and Kista Armour, the fourth of six children. Her family was tightly knit and each other’s best friends, a heritage she passed down to us. Donna graduated from South High and went to work as a riveter during WWII. She met her sweetheart, Leslie Ralph Klenk, on a blind date in 1946. Later that year, she was called to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She proudly served in the Southern States Mission while Ralph waited for her. They were married August 25, 1948, in the Salt Lake Temple.
Donna and Ralph made their home in Sugar House and were the devoted parents of two children, Susan Kay and Richard James. Donna was a dedicated mother and loved spending time with her children. After they were grown she worked for Deseret Book. She was an excellent seamstress and loved singing with Ralph and playing the organ. Donna loved to travel and especially enjoyed going on cruises with her siblings and their spouses after she retired. She served faithfully for years in the Bryan Ward primary and young women’s organizations.
Donna was a terrific grandma, in both stereotypical and non-stereotypical ways. She kept her cookie jar well stocked, and came to every school play, concert, recital, and ball game. She also had a full repertoire of naughty jokes and took the grandkids to toilet paper their cousins’ houses on more than one occasion.
Donna spent several years caring for Ralph as dementia slowly took him away from her. She loved fiercely and always maintained her wicked sense of humor. We have tried to emulate that the past few years as dementia and age came for her as well.
Donna is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Ralph, her sisters Janet and Norma, and her brothers Bill, Bob, and John (Wally). She is survived by her daughter, Susan Kennard, and son, Richard (Kristina) Klenk. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Diane Armour. She will be dearly missed by her “little shits”: her grandchildren (Julie, Kista, Jana, Douglas, Marlisa, Andrea, Brandon, Lauren, Dan, Tamara, Rebecca, and Corina), 24 great-grandchildren, and many beloved nieces and nephews.
We want to thank the staff of Aspire Home Health and Hospice, particularly Kim and Christina, for treating our Gorgeous with dignity and love and bringing her into their hearts. We also honor Donna’s daughter, Susan, for her tender care over the last three years.
The family will welcome visitors Friday, November 30, at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Mortuary from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 1, at the Union Fort Stake Center, 7155 S 540 E, Midvale, Utah, at 12:00 noon. Interment at Wasatch Lawn will follow the services.
In lieu of flowers, friends are invited to contribute to the General Missionary Fund at ldsphilanthropies.org.
