Donna Higbee

1934 - 2021

Donna Lou Robbins Higbee

1934 ~ 2021

Our beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, peacefully joined her eternal companion, Earl L. Higbee on January 5, 2021 surrounded by her children. She died of complications from Coronavirus pneumonia.

Donna Lou Robbins Higbee was born January 10, 1934 in Snowville, Utah to Harvey Joseph Robbins and Arvella Hansen Robbins. Her siblings included Carrie Matilda Robbins, Maxine (Leo) Conk, Jeanine (Marv) Cox, and Bill (Loretta) Robbins. She is survived by her sister Jeanine Cox and her brother Bill Robbins.

As a very young child, Donna lived in Snowville, Ogden, and Helper, Utah, but spent the greater part of her childhood and adolescence in Springville, Utah. Donna and her sisters, Maxine and Jeanine, would perform together under the tutelage of their wonderful mother. They would sing and dance at programs and won many amateur talent contests. They also often sang on the radio. She was a very active little "Red-Devil" and spirited cheerleader at Springville High School.

Donna met the love of her life, Earl Higbee, soaping his car windows on Halloween night. They were sealed in the Manti temple on September 6, 1950. Earl was immediately deployed by the U.S. Navy and they moved to Alameda, California where Earl was shipped out and Donna lived in military housing. They later moved to Utah and lived in Salt Lake City, Airbase Village, Milcreek, and then to Sandy, Utah on Poppy Lane where they raised their family.

Donna brought into this world, taught, and blessed the lives of four children: Dennis (Diane) Higbee, Terry (Ken) Atwan, Elise Higbee (deceased) and Denise (David) Vance. Through the Lamanite Student Placement program sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Donna also fostered two beautiful Lamanite daughters, Elizabeth Chino and Sandra Murphy. She is also survived by 16 grandchildren, and 37 great-grandchildren.

Donna was taught to have a great work ethic and officially began earning her way at the early age of 12; working for her parents at Park Ro-She in Springville, Utah. Donna started her own dance studio in her basement on Poppy Lane and blessed many young women's lives teaching them her love of dance. When her son Dennis was called on his mission to Germany, she began working at the sugar beet factory in West Jordan, Utah alongside one of her dear friends, Verda Mae Sorenson. Verda's husband Bob was her boss. She later worked at Union Jr. High in the Cafeteria and then as office staff.

Donna was blessed with a very keen intellect, organizational skills, a mind for business and flawless honesty, dependability, and integrity. Florence Hansen of Hansen Classics recognized these attributes in her neighbor friend and hired her to manage her manufacturing/processing plant and business. The company flourished under Donna's leadership and shipped the precious porcelain pieces world-wide.

Donna developed a strong testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and His gospel at a very young age. She was passionate in her testimony and was never afraid to teach and or defend it. She lived her strong testimony of tithing and paid a full tithe her entire life. She loved to serve and held many callings in all of the organizations of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints including Stake Primary President of the Sandy Utah East Stake. She and her husband served in the Jordan River and Ogden Temples. They also served in the Philippine Cebu Mission and at the Utah State Prison.

Donna loved music and played the piano and organ. Her children loved to have her play a boogie-woogie on the piano as they danced and slid on the real wood floors of their home. She also loved to sing and had a strong, clear, pitch-perfect alto voice. She was always active in ward choirs and sang with a special group of temple worker sisters called the JOY singers. She was an accomplished artist, painter, and even learned to sculpt. She loved to sew and taught the girls in the neighborhood through the 4-H program. It was common for her students to win blue ribbons at the county and state fairs. She also extended her 4-H involvement to teach cooking skills. She was active in the Edgemont Elementary School PTA and was always supporting her children in their school activities.

Donna loved being creative and crafty and could embroider, crochet, knit, quilt, and do anything she put her mind to do. She would rescue abandoned pieces of furniture and refurbish them better than new. She was an accomplished reader especially when it came to religious works. She was a gifted writer and poet. She loved attending plays, musicals and performances and was often asked to write, direct, and choreograph the ward road show. She was blessed with so many gifts and was always sharing those gifts with those around her.

She was an excellent cook and it was common for her to take meals and treats to her neighbors and friends. Many of her recipes and tips are found in nationally published cookbooks. Anyone who came to call at her home was always offered a meal. Her home was a sanctuary to her family, especially her grandchildren.

Of all her skills, gifts, and accomplishments her most favorite thing of all was her family and having them around her. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren loved coming to her home and spending the night popping popcorn, watching classical movies and musicals, playing games, and making honey candy and vinegar taffy.

Donna was a devoted wife and mother. She was tenacious about teaching her children about everything and always taught them to do things well. Her children learned to love to work hard and to this day they love working hard. If there was a garden that needed to be weeded or windows that needed to be cleaned, she worked along-side her children until they were proficient in doing it by themselves.

Her love and devotion to her beloved Earl were unmatched. Earl's cancer doctor often expressed admiration for the quality of care that Donna gave to Earl and credited Donna with extending his life by years. You would catch them holding hands while watching TV, or while kneeling at their bedside each night for prayer. They adored each other. As their children, we feel that we were truly blessed and are delighted that they are together again.

A viewing will be held, Thursday, January 14, 2021 from 6:00-8:00pm at Broomhead Funeral Home, 12600 South 2200 West, Riverton, Utah. Services will be held Friday, January 15, 2021 at 11:00am at Riverton Stake Center, 1855 West 13400 South, Riverton, Utah. A viewing will be held from 10:00-10:45am prior to the services.

Because of COVID-19, face masks and social distancing will be required at all gatherings. Space at the Friday services has been limited to 99 people. Church authorities have requested that services at the stake center be limited to immediate family only. Therefore, the funeral services will also be streamed via Zoom: Meeting ID 85686504318, password 725158. Interment will be at the Riverton Cemetery, 1540 West 13200 South, Riverton, Utah.

Donna's family would like to express their thanks to Dr. Randy Watson and to the MED/SURG unit of IHC Riverton Hospital for the care of their mother, especially Pam and Brandi, her nurses. You are angels on earth and we are so grateful for your love and expert care.

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