Donna Fae Lewis

Funeral service for Donna Fae Lewis, 83, of Ekalaka, will be 1 p.m. Monday, March 20, 2023 at Stevenson Funeral Home in Ekalaka with Tom Stieg officiating. Visitation will take place one hour prior to service. Burial will follow at Beaver Lodge Cemetery in Ekalaka.

Mom, 83, cast off the shackles of this world on March 10, 2023, to join God and her soulmate, Lee Lewis, of 55 years. Mom was born February 4, 1940, the second child to Raymond and Aggie Collins in Ekalaka. Mom spent her childhood years in Ekalaka at a time when children played freely around the town and surrounding countryside. She attended Ekalaka Elementary and graduated from Carter County High School in 1958. As a young girl, Mom enjoyed horseback riding with her friends and took part in many school events and activities.

Mom married Dad on June 11, 1958 and she cherished their years together in Ekalaka and on the ranch 30 miles southeast of Ekalaka under their Bell Tower Rock. The love of this marriage presented the world with four children: Terri (Lee) Carter of Belgrade, MT, Pamela (Gary) Gorder of Baker, MT, Wanda (Buff) Brown of Worland, WY and Lawrence (Mary) Lewis of Parker, CO.

Mom was an outstanding healthcare provider who spent her entire adult life caring for and providing for the needs of others. As an LPN nurse, Mom worked for years at Dahl Memorial Hospital in Ekalaka and then took her talents to Fallon Medical Complex in Baker. She thrived on hospital work tending to the sick and injured, and on bringing new life into the world. However, Mom's heart was with our elderly population. She would say, "They are walking, talking history books." Mom spent the last 25 years of her nursing career providing for the needs of our "walking history" population. She enhanced the quality of life for each and every person she ever touched.

In the prime of her life, Mom worked the land with Dad at the ranch where they raised kids, sheep, cattle and then buffalo. Mom loved the smell of spring wild flowers, the summer smell of fresh cut hay, autumn's vibrant colors and the bright white snow of winter that covered the countryside with the promise of moisture to bring new life the following spring. Mom enjoyed cooking and baking for her family. But after she retired from her professional life her cakes, candies, caramels and brownies, made with love as the most important ingredient, were enjoyed by everyone she knew from Alaska to Alabama. Mom enjoyed traveling. She and Grandma Aggie traveled to "the old country," Norway, years ago on what Mom called her "trip to the home lands." There they visited many, many relatives and she said she had a blast.

Over the years Mom and Dad took numerous trips in the motorhome visiting family and friends across the United States, but as mom would always say, "glad to get back home." Mom and her grade school friend, Kay (Elmore) Beard, traveled to the Sturgis, South Dakota Motorcycle Rally when they were in their late 70s! Mom's last big traveling venture, when she was 82, was again with Kay to Arkansas where she spent 3 weeks with Kay helping to set up Kay's new home. Mom shared that she saw a beautiful country and couldn't wait to go back again and enjoy good times with Kay.

Mom's life was filled with far too many accomplishments to list. We'd fill a book and then a series. We'll "cut 'er short," as she used to say, "give me the jest of the story"....

Walking on the golden streets of heaven, Mom joins Dad, Lee Lewis; parents, Raymond and Aggie Collins; brothers, Earl and Gordy Collins; sister-in-law, LaRay Collins; grandson, A.J. Carter; great-grandbaby, Usher; and many other family members and friends.

Mom left behind her four children, Terrie, Pam, Wanda and Lawrence; grandchildren, Amanda, Darick, Dustin, Donna, Sumerlea, Samantha, Sierra, Jed, Randy, Danno, Mackenzie, Fransisco, Kereysey; great-grandchildren, Morgyn, Dekota, Jacey, Ryann, Kael, Sady, Briley, Jayda, Treylan, Shawn, Denton, Kaysen, Kaislee, Adlen, Ayla, Veda; three brothers, Edgar (Wanda) Collins, Jerry Collins, Larry (Charlotte) Collins; sisters, Sheila Pinegar and Jan Collins; many nieces, nephews and loved friends.

Mom will be missed by everyone who truly knew her.