Donna Delores Kluksdahl

Donna Delores Dennis Kluksdahl was called home by our good Lord on Dec. 31, 2025. She passed peacefully in her residence at the Powell Valley Care Center. Although she didn't quite make it to the New Year, the great news is she was able to be reunited with her husband Gordon to ring in the New Year and dance the night away!

Donna was born in Miles City, Montana, on Aug. 26, 1927. The third child of John and Mary (Lena) Dennis, Donna had two older brothers, John and Everett. Donna lived on the family ranch on Beaver Creek (off the Tongue River) in Custer County for the first six years of her life. This was in the pre-REA era, and Donna could still recall her dad and brothers hitching up a sled and cutting ice blocks out of the river to put in their root cellar, and her older brothers riding horses to school.

Hard times forced the family to move to Miles City in 1933, although the family managed to keep the ranch, and Donna alternated between ranch living in the summer and their home in Miles City during school months. As a young ranch gal, Donna was a good horse rider and owned several different horses at the ranch. While in town for school, Donna attended schools in Miles City and graduated from Custer County High School in 1945. She then attended Custer County Junior College in 1945-46, and Eastern Montana Normal School in Billings, Montana in 1946-47, where she graduated with a two-year teaching certificate. She taught elementary school in Ashland, Montana in 1947-49. Donna then attended Black Hills State Teacher's College in Spearfish, South Dakota in 1949-50, attaining a bachelor's degree in education in December 1950. It was here that she met her future husband, Gordon.

Wedding plans were delayed due to Gordon being recalled for active service during the Korean War. In the interim, Donna taught sixth grade in Cody, Wyoming in 1951-52.

Donna and Gordon were married on Aug. 17, 1952, in Miles City, Montana, and shortly after moved to Bridger, Montana where Gordon taught school and eventually became an administrator. It was here that Donna took on the role of being "Mom" with four of their children being born: Gary John in 1953, Dennis Lee in 1954 and the twins Karen Ann and Ken Allen in 1957.

In 1960, Donna and Gordon moved to Powell, Wyoming where Gordon took a teaching position and worked construction during summers. They moved to 620 Cary Street in 1961, which became their home in Powell for almost 30 years

In 1963, Donna and Gordon's fifth child, Mark David was born. Starting in the late 1960's Donna taught school as a substitute in Powell elementary schools. In 1970, Donna started teaching second grade in Cowley, Wyoming, and continued teaching at Cowley through her "retirement" in 1983. She continued some substitute teaching in Powell after her retirement.

In 1991, Donna and Gordon downsized to a smaller home at 250 Grand in Powell. Gordon and Donna were married for 55 years, and after Gordon's passing in July 2008, Donna stayed at their home until she moved to assisted living at The Heartland in Powell in February 2020. In April 2023, Donna moved to the Powell Valley Care Center.

In 1971, Donna and Gordon bought their first travel trailer and were hooked — they loved it. They traveled extensively after their retirement in the 1980's, and depending on the trip either used a trailer or traveled by air or cruise ship. Besides visiting kids and grandkids in various western states, they traveled to all the states in the USA and to several foreign countries, including Norway and Germany.

They were "kings of the road" in their trailer, and did long road trips well into their late 7O's. But they especially loved trailer camping in the local area, the many trips up the North Fork or going to Bridger for annual "Bridger Days" to reacquaint with old friends and former students in the Bridger community. On camping trips up the North Fork, she especially loved large or small family gatherings, and she also loved beating Gordon in their fishing contests, and playing cribbage and rummy which she often won!

Donna had many accomplishments in her life, but the greatest were raising and being a loving mother to her five children. It was a lot of work — in Bridger when the kids were little (and in predisposable diaper times) Gordon said the washing machine never stopped running. In Powell and as the kids grew older, it was unbelievable time management for Donna. It was round the clock cooking, and she was a great cook — no one ever went hungry! Juggling schedules to get up, get kids a cooked breakfast, get ready for work, come home, and cook dinner again on a flexible schedule to accommodate after school sports schedules for the kids. And the house was constantly full of people — the kids and their many friends and friends of friends — and all the while the phone rang constantly. The kids always wondered — Mom, how did you do all of this? She did it because she loved her children. Moreover, she was awesome at it!

Donna was active throughout her life with several fraternal organizations including being a Past Worthy Matron in the Order of the Eastern Star in Bridger, and a member of Bath Zabbia Temple #21, Daughters of the Nile in Billings. She was also a member of the Methodist Church and Fraternal Order of the Eagles Auxiliary in Powell.

Donna was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Gordon, her parents, her brothers, her sons Gary and Mark, son-in-law Ralph Cercy, grandson Trey Cercy, and granddaughter Lauren Elise. She is survived by son Dennis (Fonda) of Butte, Montana, son Ken (Barbara) of Castle Rock, Colorado, daughter Karen of Tulsa, Oklahoma, 11 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Donna, Mom to us, is at peace now, and she had a great long life. Mom and Dad used to love going to dinner at the Eagles and then dancing afterward, and now they're reunited forever and dancing that "Tennessee Waltz" again!

Thompson Funeral Home assisted the family, and cremation has taken place. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to the AlBedo Shrine, PO Box 20673, Billings, Montana 59102. A memorial service this summer will be announced at a later date.