Donna Louise McCrea, 88

Donna Louise Mydland McCrea, 88, passed away Tuesday April 2, 2024 to be with her beloved Savior. Donna was born in BigTimber on July 6, 1935 to Ludwig K. Mydland and Elma V. Goakey, joining three siblings, Douglas Smith, Ellen Myrstol and Benjamin Myrstol. She was later joined by three more sisters, Marie, Sharon and Nancy. Her Family moved to Plains in the 1940s.

She was married to John Edwards in 1952 and had two daughters, Linda and Connie before her divorce. Donna married Thomas Henry McCrea on July 2, 1955. After moving to the ranch with her family they had two more children Patricia and Charles H. Tom and Donna were married for 62 years and enjoyed their family and life on the ranch.

Donna was a very hard working active woman. She loved to cook and bake items such as sourdough pancakes, cinnamon and orange rolls, her specialties were making bread and chokecherry syrup. She often hosted family gatherings, the family favorites at Christmas were Norwegian lefse and Krumkaka. Donna always planted a very large garden and taught the young ones how to plant, weed, and harvest the crops. She also took in other children temporarily that needed a place to stay until they could complete High School. Many nieces and nephews spent a lot of time at the ranch growing up. She taught all of her children how to cook and her daughters learned how to sew their own clothes. After the children started school and 4-H, she became a 4-H leader for most of their school years. She was instrumental in establishing the South Side Sparks 4-H Club in the 60’s. As the children were busy in 4-H, she kept herself busy in the home of the Economics building as the Superintendent at the Sander's County Fair for many years.

Shortly after the Clark Fork Valley Hospital was built, she went to work as a nurse's aid and Surgery Tech. Donna’s family were some of the first members of the First Lutheran Church, she was active as a Sunday School teacher and was in the Ladies Auxiliary. In her retirement years she joined the Plains Piecers Quilt Guild. She made many quilts for family and friends. After retiring from the hospital she worked at the Plains Forest Service and the Wildhorse Restaurant. Donna was a longtime member of the Order of Odd Fellow and Rebekahs in Plains, and TOPS Club.

Donna was preceded in death by her parents, Ludwig and Elma, her husband Thomas H. and daughter Connie (Stan) Austin. Also Brothers and sister-in-law, Douglas (Jenny) Smith and Benjamin (Yoko) Myrstol, Ellen (Delmar) Isackson, Marie (Bert) Barber and Sharon (RJay) Neurik. She is survived by her youngest sister Nancy(Gary) James, sister in law Edna (James) Perrodin, daughters Linda(Dan) Hurlbut, Patricia McCrea, Son Charles H. ( Jennifer) McCrea. Survived also by 9 grandchildren, Eric Anderberg, Christina (Matt) Konrad, Corrie (Dan) Roger, Casie (Nick) Knowles, Thomas J. (Marissa) McCrea, Timothy McCrea, Daniel (Shannel) Austin, Anna Jo McCrea, Krystal (Matt) Crown. Great grandchildren include Connie J., Jennifer, Nina, Maya Austin. Andesa McCrea, Evelyn and Ethan Briley, Nicholas (Brianna) Knowles, Connor Knowles, Mirabella and Forrest Rogers, Julissa McCrea, Christian (Chastity) McCrea. Great-Great Grandchildren Sequoia and Quinnton McCrea. Also Survived by numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews from the U.S., Norway, and Germany.

The family would like to give thanks to the helpful staff at the Auberge Assisted Living and Big Sky Hospice for the care that Donna received. Special thanks to granddaughter Casie Knowles for assistance with weekly shopping, deliveries ,and sending out cards to her family and friends. In lieu of flowers, Donna requested donations in her name to the First Lutheran Church, 605 S. 5th Ave, PO Box 475 Plains, MT 59859. Celebration of Life will be held at the First Lutheran on Sunday, June 22, 2024 at 3:00 pm. Dinner will be served following the service. The burial will take place at Plains Cemetery after the dinner.