Donna Jean Schultz

1932 - 2024

Longtime Alaskan, Donna Jean (Porte) Schultz, 91, died on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024.
 
She was born in Altoona, Penn. on Sept. 5, 1932, to Harold and Margaret (Smith) Porte. She grew up in Altoona and spent many summers with her grandparents at their riverside cottage. Donna graduated from Altoona High School in 1950 and Philadelphia Bible College in 1953. She became interested in Alaska after hearing a missionary speak at Calvary Baptist Church in Altoona.
 
At Bible College, she met Bert Schultz, also from Altoona, who was also interested in Alaska. They were married at Calvary Baptist Church in Altoona on Aug. 22, 1953. Their son, Scott, was born in Altoona in the winter of 1956.
 
They came to Alaska in 1957 as missionaries and lived in Old Harbor and then moved to Sterling, where Bert pastored Northland (now Sterling) Baptist Church before moving to Soldotna. They worked with Kenai Peninsula Fellowship to establish Solid Rock Bible Camp in 1958. Bert became the director of the camp in 1961 and Donna filled many roles: Assistant Director, Business Manager, Registrar, Bible Teacher, Kitchen Manager... "I wore a lot of hats," she would say. During this time, they welcomed their son Steve in 1966.
 
She also worked with children in Sunday School and AWANA at Soldotna Bible Chapel and through Child Evangelism Fellowship. She and Bert retired from Solid Rock in 1996 after 38 years of developing programs to help young people understand God's love for them. Even after retirement she continued to support the mission of the camp in many ways.
 
Her later years were spent enjoying grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as reading, gardening, knitting, and traveling. She had visited all 50 states and several countries.
 
Preceding her in death were her parents, Harold and Margaret Porte and brother, Vince Porte, sister-in-law and husband Doris and Floyd Kipple, and brother-in-law Roy Hunter.
 
Surviving, and missing her, are her husband Bert; sons, Scott and Steve; grandchildren and great grandchildren, Kyle and Jessie Schultz and their children, Ryder and Kori, Kinsie Schultz, and her children, Deakon and Rex; sister-in law, Joyce Porte and sister-in-law, Joanne Hunter; as well as three generations of nieces and nephews.
 
A service will be held 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, at Soldotna Bible Chapel.
 
The family is encouraging memorial donations be made to Solid Rock Bible Camp.

Arrangements by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.