Donna Yvonne Anderson

Donna passed away on October 30, at home, surrounded by family. She was diagnosed with metastatic cancer over the Labor Day holiday. She was born October 18, 1936 to Anna and Ralph Goldsmith. She grew up in the Chester and Mica area and then moved to Idaho with her parents. They lived off Hwy 95 in the area known as Mica Flats, they had a farm until her parents moved back to Spokane.

She graduated from Coeur d’ Alene high school when she was sixteen. She graduated from the University of Idaho with a teaching certificate. She taught school in Tonasket and at Freeman. She continued her higher education and earned a degree in Dietetics. She ran institutional kitchens at St. Lukes when it was a hospital and Riverview Retirement Facility. She had a long career in nutritional healthcare with Urban Indian Health Center and the Women Infants and Children (WIC) program as her favorites. She retired from Spokane County in the late 1990’s.

She got reacquainted with Daniel Anderson at their 10-year high school reunion. She married Dan and they had 3 children, Toni, Charli, and Darin. Daniel had 2 daughters, Debbie and Terri, from a previous marriage. As a family they enjoyed camping and boating, they spent 23 years at Spirit Lake in the summers, many good friends were made along with a truckload of smores and hot dogs. We brought our friends along and mom fed the steady stream of bodies and friends. Dan passed away in 1996 from metastatic cancer.

Donna retired after Dan passed and she became active in square dance. She was a member of the Valley Crosstrailers Club, she held offices in the club and truly enjoyed her time dancing and making friends. A fall down the stairs resulted in a badly broken leg and the injury prevented her from dancing again. She had a travel companion from the club and they traveled abroad to New Zealand and the Czech Republic. She also traveled across the US in a motorhome.

She went to college with Peggy Bryant who was married to Melvin Bryant, they remained friends through the years, when Peggy died she kept in touch with her husband Melvin, her friendship with Mel grew into a partnership. They spent many years together and traveled for his Marine Corp reunions to Washington DC and to San Diego, they took a cruise to Alaska and a train trip across the Canadian Rockies to Nova Scotia and cruised down to New York City.

She is survived by her stepdaughters Debbie McIntyre and spouse Mike McIntyre, and Terri Turner, and bonus daughter Joanne Moulton and spouse Ron Moulton. Her children Toni Dumas, Charli Kasper and spouse Troy Kasper, Darin Anderson and spouse Kimberly Anderson. She is survived by 15 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren. She was also preceded in death by her grandchildren Jamin Dumas and Stacy Dumas.

She had a good long life, she was loved and appreciated, she will be missed.