Lonna Lee Borgens

Lonna Lee Borgens, 73, of Lowden, WA, passed away in her home surrounded by family on January 7, 2023, after a short battle with Pancreatic Cancer.

Lonna was born on July 12, 1949, to Matilda “Tillie” and Raymond “Tracks” Swanger in Spokane, WA. She was raised in Spokane, WA, and attended college at Washington State University, where she met Lowden Gene Borgens. They had two children, Lowden Wyatt Borgens and Angela Lynn (Borgens) McColley.

They moved to the Walla Walla Valley and onto the family farm in 1979. She went back to school and earned her RN Degree at Walla Walla Community College. She pursued her nursing career starting at the Jonathan Wainwright VA Medical Center and then went to the Washington Odd Fellows Home in Walla Walla, where she spent the majority of her career. While at the Washington Odd Fellows Home, she worked every position and every shift, including as an Interim Director of Nursing for a time. In addition, Lonna developed and ran the OT/PT Department for the nursing home. After divorcing, Lonna continued to care for her In-Laws as needed until their passing.

Lonna was a two-time Breast Cancer survivor and had an amazing zest for life and the love of God. She was very active in the community through the Tri-Community Homemakers, Walla Walla County 4-H, FFA Supporter, Walla Walla Fair and Frontier Days, Walla Walla County Cattleman’s Youth Market Stock Sale, Walla Walla Valley Bowling Association, Walla Walla Valley Youth Bowling as a coach and most recently the Walla Walla Valley Cowboy Church.

A vast majority of her life and spare time was dedicated to her two kids, four grandkids, and countless youth of the Walla Walla Valley and beyond. Many of the youth in our community knew her as “Grandma Lonna” or “Grammie” as she shared her joy of Cooking, Sewing, and Bowling with them.

After her retirement from Odd Fellows, Lonna was able to be more active in bowling and traveled to several Ladies' and Open Bowling Tournaments across the US. She also went on several different cruise excursions, including the Panama Canal, New Zealand, and two trips to Alaska. She even agreed to go Zip-Lining on her 70th Birthday in Ketchikan, Alaska, with her grandson Justin.

Lonna is survived by her sister, Tina Lenhart; two children, L Wyatt Borgens and wife Claudia, Angela McColley and husband Gary; her three granddaughters, CoraJo Borgens and husband John Buehler, Emma Borgens, Sierra McColley and partner Lawrence Dodd. She was preceded in death by her brothers, Roger and Lloyd Swanger; and grandson, Justin McColley (8-6-21).

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on February 11, 2023, at 10:00 am, at the Walla Walla Valley Cowboy Church on Old Hwy 12 (by Don Johnson Trailer Sales).

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Walla Walla Valley Cowboy Church, St. Mary Cancer Center (Women’s Fund), Walla Walla Community Hospice, or the Blue Mountain Humane Society through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder St., Walla Walla, WA 99362. In addition, friends and family are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.herringgroseclose.com.