Donna Marie Burmester Williams, 82, of Downey, Idaho, passed away peacefully on Sunday April 3, 2011 in Columbia, South Carolina.

Donna was born on October 16, 1928 on her father’s 40th birthday to Fredrick Jachim Christian and Frieda Bartel Burmester in West Jordan, Utah. Donna spent her youth in West Jordan where she attended elementary and Jr. High Schools. She graduated from Jordan High School in Sandy, Utah in 1946.

On June 9, 1947 she married her high school sweetheart, Kenneth M. Williams in the Salt Lake Temple. Spencer W. Kimball performed the marriage ceremony. Together they were blessed with eight children.

In 1967, Donna and Kenneth moved their family to Downey, Idaho and purchased a cattle ranch. In 1972 they purchased a retail dry goods store in Downey called Don-Kenys. There she made and served many friends from the Marsh Valley area.

Donna was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and served in many capacities, including Relief Society, Primary, Sunday School, and Young Womens. She and her husband served in the Salt Lake Temple Square Mission from 1986 – 1989. For five years, they served as ordinance workers in the Logan Utah Temple. In 1996 they served a full-time proselyting mission to Columbia South Carolina.

Donna loved to grow flowers in her yard and she loved being a mother. She said, “I always loved little children, they are like a rosebud that opens up and comes into full bloom”. She enjoyed traveling with her husband and visiting her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She will be remembered and greatly missed for her many acts of service to her family, friends, and neighbors.

Donna is survived by her children: Shawna (Pat) Kirkpatrick of Palmer, AK, Lorry (Richard) Baker of Downey, ID, Collin Williams (Lynn Wolfe) of Eagle River, AK, John (Leslie) Williams of Elko, NV, Effie Williams (Dale Kinloch) of McCammon, ID, Melonie (Rod) Stauffer of Midvale, UT, James (Gina) Williams of Soda Springs, ID, and Angelyn (Ben) Aiken of Chapin, SC.; 29 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren; one sister Lorrie Egbert of St. George, UT and one brother Richard Burmester of Pocatello, ID.

She is preceded in death by her eternal companion, Kenneth, her parents, her older sister Joy Jewkes, her son David Williams, her grandson Mark Baker, and her grand-daughter Emma Stauffer.

Funeral services will be held at 12:00 noon on Tuesday April 12, 2011 at the Downey Ward Chapel with bishop Rick Armstrong conducting. Family and friends may call Monday night from 6-8 pm and Tuesday morning from 10:30 – 11:45 am at the Downey Ward House. Burial will be in the Norton cemetery in McCammon.