Donna Lee O'Leary

1932 - 2022

Donna Lee (Black) O'Leary

Feb. 17, 1932 - June 11, 2022

HELENA - Donna Lee (Black) O'Leary, passed away in the early hours of Saturday, June 11, 2022. She was released from the decline of dementia and the pain of a recent injury.

Donna was born February 17, 1932, in Great Falls MT, to Fred and Vera Black. She was followed by a sister, Beverly and two brothers, Glen, and Richard (Dick). The family moved to Marysville, MT, in 1940, when she was eight years old. Fred was the Montana Power man for the area servicing the community of Marysville and the Drumlummon Mine. They lived in a house provided by Montana Power, up the road thru Marysville on the way to Belmont. Donna and Beverly attended school in the still standing schoolhouse in Marysville until they were high school age. They made lifelong friends - two of which married other O'Leary brothers and became Donna's sisters-in-law.

Donna and Beverly both could tell many stories of their childhood and their adventures in Marysville - from school pranks, to riding a bobsled down the road to town and, once scaring the miners coming off shift with their calling to their friends from the hillside (the miners thought it was a mountain lion close to town and were running for their rifles). Donna and Beverly along with their families attended Marysville picnics in the summer for many years. Once the sisters were both in high school, the family moved to Helena. Donna met a red headed Marine veteran around the time she was graduating.

Much to her father's dismay, she fell in love and married Vernon (Red) O'Leary on July 1, 1950. Their daughter, Kittie Ann, was born in 1951, and their son, Kenneth (Rusty) O'Leary came in 1952. Around 1955, with the help of family and friends, Red and Donna themselves built their home on the East side of Helena - the first house East of Lamborn. The family watched the building of all the homes in that now completely developed area. Family activities and their home was the primary focus for Red and Donna. They were involved with their kids in school and outside activities. Vacations were spent camping or working on the development of the landscaping around their house. Eventually they became interested in various antiques and would travel the state attending auctions and estate sales.

They only ever took two extended vacations: They flew to New York city and on to Europe when Kittie was stationed there in the Army. They also traveled to Arizona, on thru Texas, and then to New Orleans visiting family when Rusty lived in Louisiana.

When Kittie and Rusty were in high school, Donna went to work with her first real employment - she became the Acquisitions supervisor at the Montana State Library. She loved her work and loved her work family. She eventually retired from the Library to spend time at home with Red. They loved their home and yard, they loved family and friends who came to visit, and they loved their many "collections." Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren have many memories of staying at their house with the many fun and creative activities Donna would have for them. Fourth of July in Helena with Grandma/Grandpa became a tradition.

Unknown to us, however, dementia was beginning its horrible takeover of Donna's mind. When Red died in 2014, it became obvious shortly after that Donna could no longer live in her home alone. We moved her to Boise, where she first lived with Rusty but was eventually moved into an Assisted Living facility. This was devastating to her - she was never able to understand why she could not go home to her much loved Helena and her house. Later she was moved into Memory Care where she lived until a recent accident.

She has now left us and gone on to join Red on a new journey.

The service for her at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home on Monday June 20, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. We will host a luncheon afterwards in same location.

Toys for Tots or the Alzheimer's Association are recommended for any desired memorial donations.