Donna Jean Stevenson

Donna Jean Stevenson (née Rolph), 89, died February 24, 2026, of complications from cancer, with her family at her bedside. She was born May 15, 1936, in Spokane, Washington. She was raised as an only child by her mother, Bernice Anderson, and her grandmother, Annie Olson, in the Spokane area, and by her father, Donald Rolph, in the Lewiston/Clarkston area.

She met her husband, Burrell (Steve) Stevenson, at the Lewiston skating rink. They married on February 19, 1953, and were blessed with five children over the next six years. The young family found their way to Walla Walla, where Steve was employed by the Washington State Penitentiary, and Donna initially was a stay-at-home mother. Once all her children were in elementary school, she took a well-needed and well-earned rest by entering the workforce. She first worked at the Delicious Bakery and then at the Montgomery Ward Catalog department and store until she retired in 1984 at the age of 48. Donna and Steve then spent more than 30 years as snowbirds, travelling 6 to 8 months a year in their fifth wheel to California, Nevada, Arizona, and Mexico, until ill health ended their travels. Donna and Steve built the home of their dreams with the help of their family on an acre of land. They spent the next 30 years living happily in their dream home.

Donna was an amazing woman in so many ways. She was on league bowling teams for many years, and was one of the first women to play softball in the newly created women’s recreational league in Walla Walla. She also tried her hand at other activities and sports, including water skiing, jogging, and tennis. Her large family spent vacations camping and traveled frequently along the Oregon and California coast. Donna was very artistic and creative. She taught all four daughters how to sew on a Singer treadle machine. She encouraged their artistic endeavors with sock dresses for Barbie dolls and later in creating their own fashions on a newer machine. She won awards for her knitted afghans and cross-stitch pictures and shared this talent with others. She did many home renovations herself, including painting, laying tiles, and re-covering furniture. She enjoyed reading, gardening, crosswords, and Sudoku, and she always had a card table set up with a jigsaw puzzle in progress. She enjoyed watching NCIS and was a sap for Hallmark Channel movies. She loved her dogs and the Seattle Mariners. She was a can-do person and willing to attempt any task.

Donna was a sweet and kind soul who developed many friendships over the years. She stayed in contact with the ‘Wards’ ladies after retirement with weekly lunches, and with the snowbirds she’d met during her travels. Donna will always be deeply appreciated, loved, and missed by her family and friends, especially her husband, Burrell, of 72 years.

Donna was very involved with her five children, 13 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren. She attended all of their high school and college graduations, sporting events, and school activities with pride and joy. She is survived by her husband, Burrell, and her five children: daughters Bobbie Short (Steve), Cindy Stevenson (Peter McClure), Terri Klundt (Jeff), Kelly Davin (Les), and son Michael (Lorrie).

A celebration of Donna Stevenson’s life is planned for Saturday, April 18, 2026, at 2:00 PM, at the Walla Walla Elks Lodge.

Memorial donations may be made in her honor to JUGGS of Walla Walla, the Humane Society, Meals on Wheels, or a charity of the donor’s choice through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W Alder St, Walla Walla, WA 99362. Friends and family are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.herringgroseclose.com.