Obituary - Darlene "Toots" Donoven

Darlene "Toots" Donoven, 81, passed away due to natural causes at Northern Montana Hospital Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017.

Cremation has taken place, and her memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017, at First Lutheran Church with Pastor Tanner Howard officiating.

Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with services and arrangements.

Please visit Toots' online memorial page and leave a message of condolence for her family at http://www.hollandbonine.com.

Toots was born May 27, 1936, in Havre to Curtis "Curly" and Velva "Vel" (Burr) Johnson. She was raised on her family farm outside of Kremlin, where she attended school. She graduated as a Kremlin Fox in 1954, and for a couple of years, she worked for the Melby Farm Supply in Kremlin.

Oct. 19, 1957, Toots married her high school sweetheart, Lowell Donoven, and the couple moved to his father's farm outside of Kremlin where Lowell worked for a few years, and Toots cooked. In 1960, Lowell began working for Wade and Aggie Clark, from whom he eventually purchased the farm, and Toots was by his side every step of the way. They had two boys, who kept them hopping. In 1996, Toots and Lowell slowed down a little and moved to Havre, although Lowell still worked out at the farm on a regular basis.

Toots spent her time painting and making dolls, growing and arranging flowers, and decorating, and she was an avid Facebooker in order to keep up with family. She was a true Norwegian woman, who adored her family. Toots loved to shop and was always "put together," but she loved horses and dogs as well.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Curly and Vel Johnson, and her two brothers, Roland and Neil Johnson.

Toots is survived by her husband, Lowell Donoven of Havre; her children, Scott (Cindy) Donoven of Forest Grove, OR, and Dallas (Jan) Donoven of Kremlin; her five grandchildren, Cody Donoven, Kendra (David) Zentmire, Karston (Melissa Pester) Donoven, Josh (Jen) Donoven, and Krista (Chris) Tennis; her six great-grandchildren, Ryker Zentmire, Callia, Cavan and Edolie Donoven, and Roland and Arlo Tennis; and numerous nieces and nephews.