Dona Lutz

Obituary Dona Lee Furniss Lutz
Dona Lee Furniss Lutz, 92, of Idaho Falls, Idaho passed away October 11, 2025.
Dona was born on October 14, 1932, to LaPreal and Burton Furniss in Blackfoot, Idaho. Dona was the oldest sibling of four sisters. She attended Moreland and Riverside Elementary as a child. She graduated from Snake River High School in 1950. After graduating High School, she attended Rick's College for a semester. Dona then began working for the telephone company in 1951.
On October 27, 1954, Dona married LaMar T. Lutz, at her parent's house in Moreland, Idaho. They had their first child Carrie Lynne in 1955. They moved to Denver, Colorado where they welcomed three more children to their family. Jeannine in 1957, Ron in 1958, and Kathy in 1959. Dona would tell you they are close in age, but boy did they have lots of fun!
In 1962, Dona and LaMar decided to move back home to Idaho. They bought a home in Tyhee in 1964. Back in Idaho, she found jobs driving farm trucks, working in warehouses, and cutting seeds. She also drove school bus for at least 8 years with the Pocatello School District #25. Dona loved to garden and oh boy her gardens were beautiful. She loved to go camping, fishing, and spending time with family at Birch Creek, Island Park, and taking her grandkids and great grand kids out for ice cream and french fries. They made these memories at Dalee'O Drive in Chubbuck and Rupe's in Blackfoot Idaho. She also loved serving and helping others whenever she could. Later in life she loved to meet her family at Costco or McDonalds to visit. She enjoyed watching her great grand kids play in many sporting activities, and dance. This always made her smile.
Dona moved from her home in Tyhee into the Cove Apartments in Pocatello, Idaho in 2024. In the spring of 2025, she moved to Idaho Falls, Idaho where she lived with her daughter Kathy until her passing. Dona enjoyed this as she could visit with her kids, grandkids and great grand kids. She was able to watch them play sports, enjoy being babysat by them, and even had her first Go Kart ride. She will truly be missed by all who loved her. Dona was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
She is survived by her children Jeannine (Stanley) Zohner of Pocatello, Idaho; Ron (Scott) Lutz of Montpellier, Idaho; Kathy (Steven) Murphy of Idaho Falls, Idaho; her grandchildren Mathew Hanson, Brenda Paz, Travis Zohner, Trever Zohner, Derek Zohner, Devin Zohner, Cortney Workman, Shannon Johnston, Kristine Beck, Tyrel Murphy, Tyson Murphy, Tell Murphy, and also 30 great grandchildren with one more on the way. Her sisters Carolyn Van Orden of Pingree, Idaho and Jean Jones of Meridian, Idaho.
She is proceeded in death by her husband LaMar T. Lutz, daughter Carrie Lynne Hanson, parents LaPreal & Burton Furniss, and Sisters JoAnn Van Orden, and Shirley Hutchinson and brother in-laws Eugene Van Orden and Glen Van Orden.
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at Hawker Funeral Home, 132 South Shilling, Blackfoot, ID. Visitation will be at 1pm prior to services at 2pm. Interment will be in the Grove City Cemetery.
We want to thank Symbii Hospice Nurses and CNAs for their care and support and Dr. Craig Steiner in helping take care of Dona. She loved talking with them and making them laugh.