Donna Capps

1941 - 2025

Donna Capps

May 14, 1941 - May 10, 2025

Donna Ritchie-Capps (Granny), 84, of Selah, WA, born May 14th, 1941 passed away at home on May 10, 2025.

Best little seamstress has laid her needle down. Born just six months after Pearl Harbor, Donna was raised in Butte, Montana. During the early years of her life, she lived with her beloved grandparents, the Kvales, in North Dakota while her parents supported the war effort working for Boeing in Seattle. Those years with her grandparents remained deeply cherished throughout her life.

As a senior at Butte High School, Donna married Richard Miller. Together, they had five children. Tragically, she lost her eldest son, Ronnie, to SIDS at just four months old. Donna and her family later moved to Yakima, WA, where she raised her children, she did this completely on her own.

Donna worked for Yakima Tent & Awning, sewing tents for major Hollywood productions including North and South and Dances with Wolves. A proud Teamster, she retired with a strong work ethic and even stronger pride in her craft. She always held a second job working at the Yakima Speedway and Yakima Meadows, all while making time for camping and fishing adventures with her children.

She taught her family to "work hard, play hard," filling their home with music, bike riding, and the joy of nature. She was a Cub Scout leader, an avid home restorer, and accomplished her dream of restoring the 100-year-old home where she was born in Butte a labor of love completed with her siblings.

For the past 20 years, she lived near her four children in Selah, enjoying daily visits, family outings, and her weekly water aerobics class. She was a master craftsman, a lover of animals especially her beloved black lab, Butter and above all, she cherished her role as "Granny."

She was preceded in death by:

Ronnie Miller, Robert Ritchie, Robin Kaighn, Richard Miller, Jim Howard, and Sophie Ritchie.

She is survived by:

Elaine & Mike Morse (Selah), Lynda & Joe Ball (Selah), Rob Miller & Jeanie Gensburg (Selah), Rick Miller (Yakima); five grandchildren, two great-grandchildren; siblings Chuck & Ida Ritchie(CA), Lori Howard (Butte), Sandy & Dave McGunnis (Butte), Larry & Bonnie Ritchie (Boulder, MT); and numerous nieces and nephews.

A private family service was held on her birthday. A Celebration of Life will take place this summer in both Selah, WA, and Butte, MT.