Donna Mae Lehtio

Donna Mae Lehtio born on 9/9/36, passed away peacefully on 1/8/2026 at her home in Santa Rosa, her final weeks and days shared with family and loved ones.

Donna was born in Newman Grove, NE to Alfred and Mary Hoveling. Growing up, her childhood was spent living on the farm in Newman Grove with her parents and brother Herbert Hoveling.

She graduated High School in 1953 from Newman Grove High School. Shortly after graduation she ventured out and moved cross country to Stockton, CA at the age of 17. She lived with her grandparents and got a job at an insurance company and attended a local community college.

After a few years in CA, she went on a blind date and met John Lehtio. They were married soon after on 6/18/1957. They lived in various cities in CA - San Rafael, Eureka, Willits, Fort Seward, finally settling in Petaluma.

Donna and John lived and raised their family in Petaluma for many years. They had 3 children, Steve, Sandra and Carol. They spent many summer vacations driving cross country to visit extended family in VA and FL multiple times. They also spent lots of time at the Petaluma Raceway where John raced stock cars and Donna worked in the Score booth. Donna and John also loved to gamble, slots for Donna; blackjack for John. They loved to take trips to Reno and Boomtown and try their luck! They were married for 53 years, John passed away in 2010.

Donna cherished her family more than anything, she loved being a grandma and great-grandma. She also loved kids in general, and spent 15-20 years babysitting from her home. She became very attached to all the families she worked for. She would bring them on as infants, cared for them until they were ready to go off to kindergarten, and then she'd start up a new round with a new family. Donna was known for her baking skills! Especially her chocolate chip cookies, which she won an award to prove it. In 1976 Donna won a chocolate chip cookie contest from Nestle Toll House, she was on TV's "Evening Magazine" and won a year's supply of chocolate chips.

Donna is survived by her son, Steve Lehtio, daughter Sandra Lehtio (Nathan Blackford), daughter Carol Mills (Keith Mills), her grandchildren, Lindsay Cordes (Darren Cordes), Michaela Smith (Chase Smith), Kylie Mills, Karina Mills, great-grandchildren, Kennedy Cordes and Harley Smith. She is preceded in death by her husband John, her parents, brother and her great granddaughter Liza Jane Smith.

Please join the family in a Memorial honoring Donna on Saturday, January 24th, at 11:00 A.M. Following the Memorial, there will be a casual luncheon reception at the home of Carol Mills; 901 Aspen Wy, Petaluma, 94954.