Donna Kathleen Porter, 71 of Helena passed away on October 27th, 2011 after a courageous battle with lung cancer. Donna was born in Helena, Montana on January 7th, 1940, to William Dickgraber and Rita Teets Dickgraber.
Donna attended Helena area schools and received her undergraduate degree from Carroll College and later earned a Master’s degree in Communications with an emphasis in Theology from the University of Denver. Donna had a productive and influential career in which she was able to teach and provide for the community. She worked for the Dioceses of Helena and was one of the founders of Career Training Institute (CTI).
Donna was a loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister and friend. She is survived by her husband Perry Fisher and their adopted grandchildren, Tori, Kyle and Jeremiah Fisher; her children by Glenn A. Porter: Jeff Porter, Theresa (Andy) Aye, Michelle (Chris) Griffin and Paul (Janet) Porter; her grandchildren Kerry Ann, Thomas, Rochelle, Tara, Kaiden and Korissa (Jeff), Cooper, Spencer and Waverly (Theresa), Levi and Andrameda (Michelle), Jaden and Sawyere (Paul); her great grandchild Elaina (Rochelle); and her siblings Bill (Elcye) Dickgraber, Wayne Dykgreve, Diana Olsen and Ron (Shannon) Dykgreve.
Donna enjoyed having many outdoor adventures including hiking, camping, boating, and rock hounding. She was able to travel abroad to Egypt and Ireland and fulfill a life-long dream. She loved her circle of friends where she was able to experience a deeper sense of spirituality. She will be forever loved and missed. God bless you Donna!
The family will begin receiving friends at 1:00 p.m. Saturday November 5th with funeral services celebrating Donna’s life to be held at 3:00 p.m. at Retz Funeral Home Chapel. A reception will be held at Jorgenson’s Restaurant immediately following the service. (Due to construction at Anderson Stevenson Wilke chapel, the funeral service will be held at Retz Funeral Home). Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.aswfuneralhome.com
Please sign the guestbook and let the family know you stopped by!
allison kirley says
Sorry to hear about your mom. Thinking of you all…Love, Alli
Ann (Shannon) Brooke says
Dear family of Donna,
I was so sad to read of Donna’s death. I enjoyed our visit so very much at the Shannon Family reunion. She was such a warm gentle spirit. May she be dancing with the angels.
Becky Johnston and family says
Dear all of Donna’s family,
We are thinking of you and the loss of Donna – way too young. The Shannon Family Reunion was a special time for everyone – and seeing Donna there with all of her family was so nice. God Bless all of you – Donna will be missed by so many, many people. Love, Becky, Libby, Mari Johnston
Ben Gittings (Uncle) says
Sorry we cound’t be there for the funeral. She will be missed.
Ellnora Young says
My condolences to all of Donna’s family. I wish I had been able to attend the reunion and meet her. From her distant cousin in Oregon.
Georgia Burns says
Jeff and Family
I am so sorry for your loss. All of you will be in my prayers and thoughts.
Jackie Windon says
Heaven will never welcome a sweeter Mama, and Earth will never lose a dearer Soul.
Julia Vincent says
Donna was a great lady.
Lois Neal says
Perry and family… Just to let you know I am thinking of you at this sad time. Donna was such a gift to those of us in her healing circles….She will be missed.
lois neufeldt says
Sending Deepest Sympathy to each of Donnas family from a Ethel Johnston grandaughter in Hood River OR Try to remember the good memories and let the rest fade away -remember your lives do pick up the pieces— sending my prayers and Best Wishes to all the family
PS she passed away on my birthday–
Maria Braman says
Our thoughts and prayers are with your family during this difficult time.
Melissa Kysar says
I am so sorry for your loss, my thoughts are with all of you through this difficult time.
Nancy McNutt says
Dear Perry and family. I was so sorry to hear of Donna’s passing, too young to be taken. I am sure she is in the loving arms of our Jesus. Donna was my angel when I moved to Montana and she hired me at CTI. I will never and have never forgotten all she did for me. Please know you are in my prayers. May those dear memories you hold, with love in your heart,warm you with comfort. Love lives forever in the heart and it always will.
Rhonda says
I wanted to let the family know how Donna impacted my life. I met her during a sweat, she always prayed for people and circumstances happening all over the world. Her prayers were always so sincere. She really was a peace seeker and giver. She was truely one of the most self-less people I have ever met. I would be so incredibly greatful to have crossed paths with her if that was the only way she impacted my life…It wasn’t until I read her obituary that I learned that she was one of the founders of a program that saved my life and forever changed who I would become. I was a young uneducated mother of two and going through a divorce, I was so depressed and really believed I would never amount to much. CTI re-directed the path I was on. Today I can tell you that I have a masters degree in Social Work and I am proud of the changes I have made and will always be greatful for such an amazing program. I so wished I could have expressed the depths of gratitude I have of that program to Donna, I did not know that she helped create a such a good red road for me to walk on.
Richard and Mary Purnell says
Sorry for loss of your Mother. Will remember her in our prayers.
Robyn & Matt Smolkin says
So saddened to hear about your loss. Sending prayers for comfort and and grace to all of you at this difficult time.