Donna Ruth (Howard) Crowder

Our beautiful Wife, Mother and G-ma gained her angel wings on October 22, 2020 in Columbia Falls, MT while Wheel of Fortune (her favorite show) played in the background. Donna was born in Belfry, MT on August 3, 1933 to Lloyd and Maggie (Jones) Howard. She joined her sister Louise, and “you call that a brother” Lee came along a few years later.

Donna attended her school years in Belfry and took pride in being a Belfry Bat. During her high school summers, she spent time working in Silver Gate with her cousin/sister GeeGee. Following High School, she moved to Billings and went to work at Mountain Bell as a telephone operator. One of her favorite memories of working there was taking a trip to Hawaii that the company set up for them. While working at “Ma Bell”, two of her co-workers insisted she come to Marilyn’s wedding in Malta as there was a “young man” (Ervin Crowder) they wanted her to meet. That handsome young man became her husband on June 4, 1960. Donna and Ervin spent their life at Sun Prairie raising three very adventurous daughters, Janet, Darcy and Leslie, as their advice was to “Go out and see the world”.

She was an Avon Lady, 4-H Leader, Homemaker, teachers aid, member of Bible Study with the local neighbors, and was always up to play a game with children of all ages. One of her favorite all time things to do was play cards, hunting season was not hunting season without a table full of friends and family playing Cook City Rummy or “Uncle Lee’s Game”. And per her family, the best Momma on the planet.

Donna leaves behind her husband Ervin of the 60 years; daughters Janet Crowder (Doug Bartz) of Barrow, AK; Darcy (Pat) Street of Powell, WY; and Leslie (Randy) Armstrong of Columbia Falls, MT. Grandchildren Jeremy Crowder and Jodene Crowder, both of Havre, MT; Brock Street of Cody, WY; Blair Street of Ridgecrest, CA; Bryce (Casey) Albright, of Cody, WY; Catrina (Tyler) Sutton of Marion, MT; and Randilyn (Jesse) Heldstab of Hillsboro, OR. Great grandchildren Amelia Sutton, William Sutton, and Brooklyn Heldstab. Along with numerous brothers and sisters-in-laws, more nieces and nephews than you can shake a stick at, and many “honorary” children.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Lloyd and Maggie Howard; infant sister Valera, sister Louise Krum and her husband Hank; and brother Lee Howard and his wife Betty. Along with brothers-in-law Allan, Bob, Frank and Ben Crowder and sister-in-law Rose Pewitt.

The graveside service will be at 11:00 a.m. on October 31, 2020 at the Crowder Home in Sun Prairie with a service at the First Creek Hall followed by a luncheon.