Donna Bowen

Donna Pearl Ward Bowen, 87, passed away in the early morning hours of Thursday, April 7, 2016 in Malad City, Idaho, due to impaired lung function. Donna was born in the family home to Joseph Welton Ward Sr. and Annie A. Evans in Malad City, Idaho, on October 24, 1928. She was born into large loving family of 9 older half siblings and a younger full sister. Donna enjoyed growing up in her large Ward family and dearly loved her siblings. While growing up, Donna was blessed to have older brothers and sisters who lived nearby and she spent many hours in their homes playing with their children. She often laughed about being an aunt to an older niece. She loved the family farm and working with her dad and brothers during hay season, milking cows and riding the derrick horse. She was a graduate of Malad L.D.S. Seminary and High School. Donna always loved pretty, soft and shiny things. Over the years she collected keepsakes and put together many floral arrangements to decorate her home and patio. She married Ren Ray Bowen on December 13, 1946 in the Logan L.D.S. Temple. They were blessed with 4 children; Don Ray, DayOnna, Brent and Bradford. They were later divorced. Donna worked at various jobs while living in Malad. She especially liked working as an operator for the telephone company and in the city offices. She moved to Aloha, Oregon in 1980 and enjoyed working as a receptionist at the Regional Kaiser Hospital in Portland, Oregon. The work she enjoyed the most was being a homemaker. She was well known for her skills in the kitchen. She loved to cook large meals and bake. No one entering her home ever left without being well fed and blessed by delicious home baked bread, pies and cookies. At the age of 62, Donna moved back to Malad City from Aloha, Oregon where she made her home at the South Apartments. She loved her neighbors and enjoyed sharing her patio with them during the summer months where they would all gather to visit and share treats. She had several health issues in her later years and felt blessed to be “home” in Malad where family and friends would visit and care for her. Donna was the last surviving member of her Ward brothers and sisters. She is preceded in death by her parents, ten siblings, ex-husband and one son, Bradford Leon Bowen. She is survived by two sons, Don Ray (Debra) Bowen, Boise, Idaho; Joseph Brent (Christine) Bowen, Malad City, Idaho; and one daughter, DayOnna (Richard) Williams, Hillsboro, Oregon; 14 grandchildren and 38 great-grandchildren. The family would like to give heartfelt thanks to Brent and Christine Bowen who opened their home to mother these past several months and took such loving and compassionate care of her. We also want to thank Dr. Teeples and Dr. Pickett for both their professional care and personal interest. Funeral Services will be held on Friday, April 15 at 12 noon in the Malad LDS 2nd/4th Ward Chapel, 20 S. 100 W. Friends may visit with the family at the Horsley Funeral Home on Thursday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and Friday morning from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. prior to the service. Burial will follow in the Malad City Cemetery.