Donna was born in East Lansing, Michigan, on March 10, 1932 to Leonard and Cecil Stephens. She graduated from Sexton High School and after graduation, worked for Michigan School Supply as a secretary.
In 1952, she married William Harder and the following year, she became a full time homemaker and mother, and devoted her life to giving and serving her family unselfishly.
She also gave her time and talents to her church, where she taught Bible school, Sunday school, and served as a nursery worker. She also offered her business and secretarial services to her pastor.
She befriended every cat that crossed her path and helped many with the veterinary services to ensure their health and well being. She loved feeding birds, squirrels, and any outdoor animals in her backyard.
She enjoyed sewing, gardening, cooking, baking, and crossword puzzles, along with a good game of scramble with her family.
She worked alongside Bill and made his hobbies hers, just to be near him. They traveled to Shipshewana Auction and Flea Marker in Indiana, and various antique sales and flea markets in the area for collectables.
Donna loved her family including her husband, children, and their spouses, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and will tell you that her favorite family time were when they were gathered around her home and table for meals prepared by her. She made wonderful scalloped potatoes and apple pie, and many other of her family's favorites.
Her faith was very important to her and she taught her children at a young age how important it was to memorize scripture. She prayed with them before bedtime and would help them memorize the 23rd Psalm and other verses for Sunday school and Bible school.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Leonard and Cecil Stephens; her husband, William "Bill" Harder; sisters, Norma (Charles) Kelly, Shirley (Harold) Blankenship, and Barbara (Pip) Smith; brother-in-law, Wayne Lyon; and brother, Hugh (Jill) Stephens.
She will be missed by her family, including her sister-in-law, Elizabeth Baynes; her sons and spouses, Michael, Bill (Coreen), and Gordon (Pam) Harder; her daughter, Teresa (Bob) Villarreal. Her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, cousins, nieces, and nephews will also miss her and were dearly loved by her.
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