Donnalee Schwend Fulwiler

On November 13, 2023 - Donnalee Joan Sargent Schwend Fulwiler, with her daughters by her side, went to be home with her Jesus.
Donnalee was born on September 30, 1937, to Victor & Gertrude "Trudy" Tutherly Sargent in Marsfield, Oregon. She was also a member of the Piegan Clan through her adopted mother Iola Iron Caplett.
Donnalee was raised in western Oregon until age 6 when the family moved to Hood River, Oregon. It was there that she enrolled in the Billings School of Dance and her love for tap dancing was born which continued into her adult life. She appeared on stage at the Hollywood Theatre in Portland and Rodeo Western Stage Tap Dancing Production in Central WA; she loved to dance.
After graduation in 1955 from Bend, Or, she entered Oregon State College that led her to becoming a legal secretary.
On the encouragement of a pen pal Joyce Reeves from Culbertson, MT, she found employment as a legal secretary in Billings, MT.
In 1958, she met a tall handsome cowboy, Glen "Corky" Schwend, and they were married on February 6, 1960, and life on the Schwend Family Ranch began. What a life change as she entered the life of the world of tall grass and cattle and horses. She lived 45 miles from town on the Big Horn River of Montana as a rancher's wife and mother to daughters Colleen, Tracy, and son Cody to be raised in the cowboy life and tillers of the soil.
Donnalee's business life started again when she was approached by father-in-law Jess Schwend to start taking care of their agricultural leases for them and Reservation Ranchers was born. After a short stint working strictly for John Greytak, a small group of Farmers & Ranchers helped her start Agri Leasing. After working for them exclusively for five years, she could add clients as she wished. She retired in 2002 after 20 years and the legacy of Agri Leasing is still going strong today.
After divorcing Corky, she moved to Billings and started getting involved in all things Billings and back to city life, the Blue Blazers, tennis, theatre, and dance.
In 1997, she met a dashing radio talk show host David "Berg" Fulwiler and they were married September 5, 1998. They had many adventures in their 16 years of marriage until the time of his passing in 2014.
In 2004 she discovered a new passion, watching her grandchildren play sports!! Boy and what a cheerleader she was. She had a stadium chair specially made that said Nana on it and the back would change from Huntley Project Red Devils to Hardin Bulldogs depending which grandchild she was watching. She was the kids' biggest fan and so proud of each of them. She would say, "Of course I am going, because there will come a day I can't". She continued watching three granddaughters play college volleyball and one granddaughter college rodeo, grandsons playing football and wrestling. She was a fan.
Although losing her leaves a huge void in our lives, the legacy of family and friends she leaves behind are testimony of a life well lived. We mourn her but every day are reminded of her love and the things she taught us; her memory lives on through that legacy.
Donnalee was preceded in death by her parents Victor & Gertrude Sargent, husbands David "Berg" Fulwiler and Corky Schwend, brother Jack Sargent, daughter-in-law Kara Schwend, great-grandson Blake Baker Schwend, and adopted mother Iola Iron Caplett,
Surviving her is her daughter Colleen (Tim Moullet) and granddaughters Tiffany (Jake Lynch), Jaxen and Tavy Jo, Bethany (Guy Nordahl) Louis, Hollyn May, and Jessy; daughter Tracy Schwend and granddaughters Stormy Siemion, Cady (Treavor Lackner); son Cody Schwend and grandson Steven (Tonnie), their children Carlos, Zayleigh, Boston; grandson Conner Schwend; brother Dick (Lynnea) Sargent; sister-in-law DeeAnn Sargent; niece Rhonda (Dave) Winters; nephews Mark (Gail) Sargent, Christopher Sargent, and Colton (Hailey) Sargent; adopted sister Colena Caplett; and special friend Sarah (Joey) Hope.
A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, November 22, 2023, 11 a.m. at Heights Family Funeral Home, 733 W Wicks Lane, Billings.
Memorials can be made to the Big Horn County Museum.