Donna Catharine Utter

Donna Catharine (Dix) Utter passed away into the arms of her Lord and Savior on February 20, 2012 in her home near Bonners Ferry, Idaho (as was her wish) with her husband and a daughter by her bedside. Donna was born February 10, 1942, to William “Bill” Alfred and Wineva Francis (McCalley) Dix in Daviess County Missouri on the family farm. She was the fifth of seven children raised on a dairy farm where she learned to cook for hay hands, care for animals and love farm life. In her school years, she participated in 4-H, Future Homemakers of America, Future Farmers of America and music. She and her sister were the first to show Brown Swiss dairy cows at the North Central Missouri Fair, for which she received Grand Champion. She was also crowned FFA Queen her junior year. On July 11, 1959 Donna married Clifford Ray Utter, whom she met in 8th grade while standing in the lunch line at school. They were married in Harrison, Arkansas. Of the 52 years they were married, they spent 40 years working together for the Lord, planting churches and sharing Jesus’ love for others. Because of their mission work, they lived in seven states and moved thirteen times. Even as a young girl, Donna had a gift of nurturing and caring for others and always knew she wanted to be a Registered Nurse. After 15 years and five universities, she finally completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1984, finishing second in her class at the University Of Iowa School Of Nursing. In her adult years, her activities reflected her relationship with God and love for people. She was a Bible school teacher, a camp nurse, mentored young women, led ladies’ Bible classes, and participated in a medical mission trip to Tortola, B.V.I. Her community service activities included becoming a Master Gardener, being a Hospice care provider for Boundary County Home Care, working with special needs children, and cooking for literally hundreds of people (from neighbors, church outreach programs and youth groups, wrestling team, and families that her husband, a minister, would bring home who needed help). She was well-known for serving food raised on her farm and especially for her homemade rolls. She was also a talented seamstress who made her daughters’ wedding dresses and pajamas for her grandchildren, loved going to auctions and estate sales, and could compete with the best in Scrabble. She was preceded in death by her parents, her older brother, David Dwight Dix, older sister Ruth (Dix) Hornsby, and younger sister Mary Margaret (Dix) Caruso, and two granddaughters: Meredith Elise Stinson and Laura Marie Utter. She is survived by Clifford, son David (Patty) Utter of Lawton, Oklahoma, daughter Vicky (David) Stinson of Spokane, Washington, son Michael “Micky” (Joy) Utter of Mica, Washington, daughter Stephany (Curtis) Mast of Monroe, Washington, foster-daughter Bonnie Dickerson (Jack) Breuer of Stewartsville, Missouri; 15 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren, 4 foster children; and 3 siblings, oldest brother Charles Van Dix of St. Joseph, Missouri, sister Melva Jane Steen of Lee’s Summit, Missouri and youngest brother John (Judy) Dix of Collinsville, Oklahoma. A quote from her high school year book best sums up her life: “Her friends are many, her foes -- are there any?” There will be a Celebration of Donna’s life on March 3, 2012 at 1:00 PM at the Boundary County Church of Christ on US 2, Bonners Ferry, Idaho. If attending, please wear happy colors. The family suggests memorials be sent to: 1) Bonner Community Hospice, PO Box 1448, Sandpoint, ID 83864 with Donna Utter’s name in the memo line, or 2) Children's Ministry Fund, c/o Boundary County Church of Christ, PO Box 997, Bonners Ferry, ID 83805. Family and friends are invited to sign Donna’s book at www.bonnersferryfuneralhome.com Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Bonners Ferry Funeral Home.