Donna Lou Nasseth

December 27, 1928 - January 13, 2009

Donna Lou Nasseth, age 80, died January 13, 2009 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, after a valiant struggle with complications from heart disease. Donna was born December 27, 1928 in Warwick, ND to Melvin Peterson and Edith Fern (Baker) Peterson. She graduated from Valley City High School and Valley City State Teachers College (now VCSU), where she was a Thespian and studied music and education. She trained in piano, organ, and violin, had a beautiful soprano voice, and had dreams of singing on Broadway and being a nurse. As a student, she worked summers in the Valley City hospital newborn nursery and in clerical jobs in Los Alamos, NM. Donna taught elementary school music for 3 years in Grand Forks, ND. She returned to Valley City to marry Donnell T. Nasseth in 1952. Together, they had 2 children, DeAna and Dan. She dedicated herself as a homemaker and contributed untold hours to Epworth United Methodist Church directing children’s choirs and participating in the music program and women’s Circle. Donna continued her homemaking and musical involvement as the family moved from Valley City to Fargo, ND (Faith UMC), Houston, TX, and Billings, MT. In Billings, she worked in the Personnel Department at First Interstate Bank, where she earned recognition for her professional accomplishments and acquired many dear friends. After retirement, Donna did not slow down, and earned top sales awards as an Avon representative until her second retirement at the age of 78. She continued to enjoy family and friends, interior decorating and landscaping, and keeping up with computer technology. Donna loved to laugh until she cried. She cherished her family and friends and selflessly set aside many of her own aspirations in deference to those of her loved ones. Donna enjoyed family travels, including their 50th wedding anniversary family celebration in Branson, the American West, Hawaii, Europe, and ancestral locations in Norway. After 37 years in Billings, Donna and Don moved to Colorado Springs, CO in September, 2008 to be near DeAna and Dan and their families. Donna had traveled through Colorado Springs in her teen years, fell in love with the mountain scenery and climate, and wished that she could live there someday. Her wish came true. Her father; mother; and sisters, Cleo Ecklund, Enid Nordeen, and Jean Peterson preceded Donna in death. Surviving her are husband Don, daughter DeAna Nasseth (Dennis Schneider M.D.), son Dan Nasseth (Lisa), grandchildren Dustin and Dana Schneider and Sean and Kelli Nasseth, and niece Cheryl Ecklund.