Donna Lea Downs Watts, 83 years young went home on Monday morning August 3, 2020. She passed peacefully to the place that Jesus has prepared for her.
Donna was born on June 15, 1937 to Ruth Ensley and Joe Downs in Helena MT. She had a loving family, Brother Joe, sisters Mary “Zoe” and Ruth “Ellen”. Donna was the youngest and she came away with a loving, grateful heart and soul.
She attend schools in Helena, May Butler, Central and Helena High, until she graduated with the class of “55”. She participated in the marching band (drums) and chorus. Both brought her great joy. She attended college in McMinnville OR, where she also participated in the marching band.
She met Boyd Max Watts. “He picked me up at 6th & Main” she said with a smile many times. They were married September 14, 1956 in Moorhead, MN.
During their marriage they spent time in Florida, where Max deployed to Korea, and later in South Carolina, where Max’s family was. He was the youngest of 14. Donna was surrounded by his siblings, and many nieces & nephews. During his military deployment, she often told of loading up all the kids in her car and heading out to the swimming hole. Great fun for her.
Max and Donna had four children, Bret (Sherri) Watts, Joe (Wendy) Watts, Grif (Pam) Watts and Beth Watts.
In 1968, they returned to Montana, four kids in tow and began a new chapter in their lives, close to her family. Donna worked at the Montana Highway Patrol and for the Helena School District. She loved the kids and grandkids, more than anything. Traveling was a close second, day trips in the Fiat with the top down and winters spent in Arizona. She also loved the snow and had wonderful stories of her childhood home on South Rodney. It seems she spent her childhood sledding and ice skating with her best friend “Gracie”. Stories of fishing in a little boat on Echo Lake with her dad, swimming in the hot springs of the Broadwater Natatorium. All fond memories to her, and great stories.
She is preceded in death by her Beloved Mother, Ruth Ensley Downs Clark and Father Joe Downs. Siblings Joe, Ruth “Ellen” and Mary “Zoe”. Husband Boyd “Max” Watts and Daughter Ruth Elizabeth “Beth” Watts.
She is survived by sons, Grif & Pam Watts, Joe & Wendy Watts, Bret & Sherri Watts. She is also survived by her beloved nieces, Julie Greve, Stephanie Nelson, & Zoe Anne Bushilla. Grandchildren Billy Joe Watts, Christopher (Carmen) Watts, Johnny (Katie) Watts, Christina Dunn, Austin Diaz, Connie (Tony) Schreckengust, Jessica (Mathew) Dyrdahl, Joshua, Sarah, Tayeler & Ethan Diaz and dozens of great grandchildren.
Donna touched many lives across the country, across the generations, and across her 83 years with us, she will live on forever in our hearts.
A Memorial Service celebrating Donna’s life will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, August 7th at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 3750 N. Montana Ave. A coffee and cookie reception will follow the service in the social hall at the funeral home. Burial will follow the service at the Montana State Veteran’s Cemetery at Fort Harrison. Please visit below to offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Donna.
Service Schedule
Celebration of Her Life
1:00 p.m.
Friday August 7, 2020
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Coffee and Cookies
After the service
Friday August 7, 2020
Social Hall of Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Burial
After the gathering
Friday August 7, 2020
Montana State Veterans Cemetery
Ft. Harrison, Montana 59636
Service Schedule
Celebration of Her Life
1:00 p.m.
Friday August 7, 2020
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Coffee and Cookies
After the service
Friday August 7, 2020
Social Hall of Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Burial
After the gathering
Friday August 7, 2020
Montana State Veterans Cemetery
Ft. Harrison, Montana 59636
Share
Cathy (Pullin) Kovich says
Joe and family, sorry for your loss. Years ago I remember your big house with many, many rooms and hidden spaces and your mom a welcoming woman with ‘big’ presence and a smile to match. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Judy Salisbury says
Oh my gosh, Donna, you’re finally Home. I am going to miss my Donna Days so very much! What a true ray of “Son”shine each day I was able to visit you. It hurts so much that we couldn’t visit these last few months. But all is well for you now. I will remember your beautiful desk and how we shared that one story together. I will always love you and treasure your friendship, dear Sister. See you soon. Give Beth a tight hug for me. Judy Salisbury
Judith Bowling says
My memories of Aunt Donna began when Uncle Max brought her to Greenville when she was 18. She was the sweetest person and became the favorite aunt right away. She was always gathering us kids (she was only 7 years older than me) but we were the kids and taking us to Woods Lake swimming. Our summers were filled with adventures because of her.
I loved her so much and she was my ‘go to’
person when I had a problem. She was there for me when I got married and had my kids.
We were in contact over the years after she and Uncle Max and the kids left Greenville for Montana.
I could go on forever but will just let y’all know how much I love you all. I will cherish the last time I saw her when I finally got to come to Montana and when we enjoyed an evening and a great meal together.
God be with you through this time and know that you are loved.
Goodbye my sweet Aunt Donna. Rest in peace.
🙏🙏🙏
Elmer and Barb Cole says
Brett, so sorry to hear of your Mom’s passing. So many good memories of your parents during the winters in AZ and our visits in Helena. They were welcoming enjoyable friends.
Debbie Zuidema says
Brett and family,
I’m so sorry for your loss. Your Mom was such a special person and will be missed.
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Gracie Cooper says
Dear family, from third grade on Donna and I were BEST of friends. Close as sister. Rest in peace dear friend.
Until we meet again.
Bill "Little Billie" & Colleen Sephenson says
A heart of gold stopped beating. Aunt Donna touched the lives of so many. She always welcomed everyone with her big heart and a ready smile. Rest in peace Aunt Donna, you will truly be missed.
Norma Connor Ricks says
To the Watts families, So sorry for your loss. I will be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers. Sending you my deepest condolences. Her passing is a sore loss to me, too. Donna was my dearest, oldest friend I have ever had. We’ve been friends for over 77 years (since she was 6 and I was 5 when we met. We lived only a block away from each other. I was the other girl in the “Bus Story” you’ve probably heard. I was the one who sat on her front steps, waiting for our Dad’s to come home from work. We spent many hours up on the hills around us overlooking Helena , around the reservoir, picking wild flowers, exploring caves and old mining sites. One time she stole some of her father’s Camel cigarettes and went up on the hill to smoke (they were nasty and we did it only once). We had weddings, the bride coming down the staircase at my house, fancy dresses, curtains for our veils, using lilacs and other flowers. Neither of us in real life, had fancy weddings like those, so we concluded those had to suffice. We loved bicycling, ice skating, roller skating. We kept in touch while they were in Carolina and the military. When they came back to Helena, I was living other places, but we always stayed in touch.. While she was at Touchmark, I’d usually visit at least once a month, but since Covid-19, I’ve missed our visits these past few months. I’m sorry I couldn’t visit or say “”good bye”. I loved her like a sister and I shall miss her.
Bret Watts says
Thank you all for the kind words. I heard the “Bus” story, and the skating and sledding stories many times in recent years, it seems her childhood was the greatest time of her life and she was always very animated when she spoke of it. Gracie and Norma, she could tell stories of your times together for hours, and she told those stories until the the very end. you really were “great” friends to her. Thanks again to all who have posted here.
John & Bonnie Finstad says
Dear Watts Family……We are so sorry to read about your mother but we know she is in heaven rejoicing with the Lord.
May he bring comfort to all of you at this time.
Curt Black says
Bret & Joe, So sorry to hear about your mom passing.