(Age 85)
Donna Mae Flynn was born in Kalispell, Montana on May 29, 1933 to Tom and Helen Flynn. She went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on October 27, 2018 at the age of 85.
Donna grew up in Kalispell. She actively participated in her high school band where she played the vibraphone and was drum majorette. She participated in church and youth group activities. She graduated from Flathead County High School in 1951, and from Whitworth College in 1956 with a Bachelor of Arts in Education. It was at Whitworth where she met, fell in love with, and married Leslie James Nygren of Spokane, WA; a marriage that lasted 57 years until Les’ passing in 2015.
After graduating from college, Donna taught at University Elementary School in the Spokane Valley until moving on to the honorable, time consuming, and arduous task of raising two sons, Mark and Steve.
Early on, Donna had several hobbies including outdoor activities, church activities, and stamp collecting. Later in life she enjoyed the garden and the kitchen. She crafted wonderful raspberry jam from raspberries she personally grew in her vast garden. She also made the best cheeseballs in the world, a favorite during the holiday season! Both recipes remain a closely guarded family secret. She loved Kalispell and Flathead Lake, a place she considered to be God’s country. She enjoyed spending summers there at the Flynn family lake place; surrounded by her large extended family.
Donna accepted Christ as a young woman, a faith and relationship that grew and deepened over her lifetime. She served the Church in numerous capacities, as both a servant and a leader. Donna was a fan of Evangelist Billy Graham, passionate about Christian outreach, supporting many outreach ministries. Her favorite was Operation Christmas Child, where she would personally fill shoeboxes with Christmas items for underprivileged children around the world.
She was truly devoted to her family; a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
Donna was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Dick Flynn, and her husband Les. She is survived by her sister Joanne Dykes of Kalispell, MT, brother David (Carolyn) Flynn of Boise, ID, her son Mark (Mindy) of Spokane, her son Steve (Heidi) of Ritzville, and her granddaughters BreAnna, Holly, Catarina, and Rachel.
Donna’s family wishes to thank the staff at Evergreen Fountains Assisted Living for their exceptional care and compassion over the last year, as well as the staff at Pine Ridge Alzheimer's Special Care Center for their efforts and care during Donna’s last few weeks.
A public memorial will be held Saturday, November 17, 2018 at 11:00 AM at Thornhill Valley Chapel, 1400 S Pines Rd. Spokane Valley. A lunch reception will immediately follow in the Ponderosa Room of the Mirabeau Park Hotel, 1100 N Sullivan Rd. Spokane Valley.
Memorial donations should be given to Operation Christmas Child via Donna’s memorial page at https://www.samaritanspurse.org/memorial-page/donna-m-nygren-spokane-valley-wa
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