Dona L. Felstet

Dona L. Felstet passed away Sunday, May 4, 2014, at Village Health Care Center in Missoula. Dona was born Nov. 9, 1937, in Missoula to parents Joseph N. and Evelyn H. Boyer. She lived in the Frenchtown Valley all her life, attending Frenchtown schools and graduating from Frenchtown High School in 1955 as Salutatorian. She attended Carroll College in Helena, and later earned an accounting certificate from Missoula Technical Center.

Dona married Duane Felstet, her high school sweetheart and best friend, in 1958 and recently celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary.

She really enjoyed attending her 50th high school reunion in 2005 where the highlight was getting reacquainted with her former teacher Mrs. Dorothy Hunton and former classmates.

Dona and Duane spent 18 years traveling in their first motor home on weekends and vacations. After Duane retired, they enjoyed time spent during three winters in Arizona, but Dona always loved her home in Montana best. She really enjoyed their 25th anniversary trip to Hawaii and a later trip to take Duane's mother Ann (one of the last Dam builder survivors in our family) to a Boulder Dam Builders Reunion in Las Vegas.

They really enjoyed the larger, more spacious motor home acquired in recent years which Duane modified for accessibility, taking many fun trips to favorite locations.

Dona did secretarial and bookkeeping work for many years, with the last job before becoming disabled in 1974, as secretary at Frenchtown High School. She did volunteer office work for 10 years after becoming disabled.

She was a member of the book committee of the Frenchtown Historical Society that wrote the Frenchtown Valley Footprints history book. She was also a member of the Frenchtown Valley Arts Council, the Pallet Pals painting group, the MinisRFun Miniature group, the National Association for Miniature Enthusiasts, St. John Catholic Church in Frenchtown, Frenchtown Senior Citizens and various other organizations over the years.

She enjoyed travel, music (played organ, piano and saxophone), reading, growing flowers, oil, acrylic and watercolor painting, dollhouse miniatures, photography, history, pinochle, theater productions and spending time with family and friends.

She prided herself on being fiercely independent and credits her facilitator Duane for the many modifications he made to their home, yard and vehicles.

Survivors include husband Duane of 56 years; daughters, Luanne of Missoula and Loreen of Alberton; sisters, Karen Parker of Arizona and Lisa Boyer of Nevada; brother Joe of Frenchtown; several nieces, nephews and their children, and numerous cousins. Predeceasing her were parents Joe and Evelyn Boyer.

Dona's life theme is a verse from Timothy 4:7 that says "I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith."

Memorials may be made to an organization of your choice or Shriners Hospitals for Children, 911 W. 5th Ave, Spokane, WA.

By the time of this notice, she will have been cremated and a private internment will occur at Sunset Memorial Gardens. A Celebration of Life ceremony will be held at the Frenchtown High School Commons on Saturday, May 17 from 1 to 4 p.m. There will be a light luncheon served and a potluck of desserts.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom.
Read Dona Felstet's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.