Obituary - Marlene June (Newlan) Donoven

Marlene June (Newlan) Donoven of Kremlin, MT, 91, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loved ones on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, at Northern Montana Care Center.

A visitation will be held from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, at Holland & Bonine Funeral Chapel. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, at First Lutheran Church with Pastor Michael O’Hearn officiating.

Burial will follow in Highland Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations and memorials can be sent to Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp and the Feed My Sheep Community Soup Kitchen in Havre, MT. Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with services and arrangements. Please visit Marlene’s online memorial page to send a card or leave a message of condolence for her family at http://www.hollandbonine.com.

Marlene was born to Clarence and Kathleen Newlan in Havre, MT, on June 30th, 1933. She spent her childhood years living in various places. Her family moved back to Kremlin during her freshman year of high school, where she resided until her passing. While in high school, Marlene met the love of her life, Keith (Keiter) Donoven. The two were high school sweethearts, and Keiter waited patiently for Marlene to graduate before they married on October 15, 1951, and moved to Keiter’s family farm, north of Kremlin. Keiter and Marlene lived on the family farm and raised three children, Shelley, Brian, and Barry.

In addition to raising her three children and helping on the farm, Marlene could always be found in the community as an active member of the Kremlin Lutheran Church, sewing club, and supporting her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren in their numerous extracurricular activities. Marlene loved crafting (especially diamond dots and puzzles), baking, painting, and collecting angels. Marlene was known for her hospitality, patience, warm smile, kind heart, and generosity. She always had warm baked goods ready for her guests (such as her famous molasses cookies or cinnamon rolls). She was a doting wife, loving mother, perfect grandmother, and faithful friend.

Marlene was preceded in death by her loving husband of 71 years, Keiter; furbaby, Lady; son and daughter-in-law, Barry and Diane Donoven of Kremlin, MT; father and mother, Clarence and Kathleen Newlan of Kremlin, MT; sister, Delores Berg of Kremlin, MT; and in-laws, Lloyd and Irene Donoven of Havre, MT.

She is survived by her daughter, Shelley (Tom) Kippert of Casa Grande, AZ; son, Brian (Patty) Donoven of Havre, MT; her grandchildren, Nick Donoven of Havre, MT, Brianna Donoven of Helena, MT, September Searles of Kremlin, MT, Kyle (Kristin) Donoven of Havre, MT, Matt (Jessica) Felt of Kaysville, UT, Heidi (Patrick) Donoven of Billings, MT, and Tara (Karin) Donoven of Kremlin, MT; and great-grandchildren Xian, Xander, Xachery, Grayce, Shilo, Brynn, and Hunter.