Donna Bowen

Together Again

Donna Jenkins Bowen, age 92, Taylorsville, Utah, formerly of Bountiful, died peacefully in her sleep in the early hours of Thanksgiving morning, November 22, of congestive heart failure at her daughter’s home in Orem, Utah.

Born October 5, 1920 at her grandmother’s home in Farr West, Utah, daughter of Cora Helena Stephenson and John Howard Jenkins.

Donna graduated in the first graduating class from the new Ogden High School. She took an associate degree from then Weber College and a B.S. in marketing from BYU where she was women’s page editor on the Signpost. Norman R. Bowen, her future husband, served as editor of the paper.

She married Norman Ralph Bowen August 24, 1943, in the Salt Lake Temple. While Norm served in the US Navy during World War II, Donna worked in a number of responsible positions in cities on the Eastern Seaboard culminating in a position as assistant editor of General Federation of Women’s Clubs Magazine in Washington, DC.

Donna and Norm moved to Bountiful in 1950, where she was active in civic affairs, a charter member of both the chapter of American Association of University Women and the Bountiful Literary Club. She was always active in the LDS church, served twice as Primary president, as well as Relief Society president and on many stake boards. Donna served with Norm when he was called as president of the Eastern Atlantic States Mission. Donna and Norm served a second mission in Hawaii as communications missionaries.

Donna’s courage and determination aided her recovery from Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and its after-effects in 1994-95. Her gracious manner, humility, and patience endeared her to all who knew her.

Donna’s greatest joy came from her children and extended family who love her deeply. Her influence over them is profound and becomes only greater as they grow and raise their children, utilizing all that she taught them. Her children are Donna Lee (James) Barnes, Mary Karen Solomon (Joseph) Huelskamp, Cacey (Carol LeFevre) Bowen, John H. Bowen, Kristen (Budd) Black. Grandchildren: Anna Solomon, Brandon (Britney) Bowen, Patrick (Amanda) Solomon, Joy Bowen Stearns, Jennifer (Ryan) Marcum, Sophie Solomon (Ben) Bigelow, Ciara Black (Eric) Leavitt, Amanda Bowen (Adam) Best, Dallas Black, six great granddaughters, and two great grandsons. She is also survived by sister-in-law, Rose Bennett Jenkins and beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Donna was predeceased by husband, Norman R. Bowen, and siblings Barbara and Jack Works, Marion and Charles “Bud” Congdon, John and Beverly Jenkins, Richard Jenkins, and grandson-in-law, Brett Stearns.

Viewing at Russon Brothers Mortuary, 295 North Main, Bountiful, on Friday, November 30 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, December 1, with a viewing from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Bountiful 18th Ward, 165 South 1000 East, Bountiful, Utah. Burial will be at the Lakeview Memorial Cemetery in Bountiful, Utah.

The family requests that instead of flowers, donations be made to the Perpetual Education Fund or the General Missionary Fund of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Online guestbook on www.russonmortuary.com.