Obituary
Donna Jean Tursa was born on April 30, 1928 in Le Roy, Iowa to Jacob and Vada (Wheeler) Bennett. She was the fourth of ten children in the family and actively participated in raising her younger siblings. She passed away peacefully with family surrounding her with love on October 24, 2020 in Portland, Oregon.
Donna spent her early years in Sheridan, Iowa and accepted Jesus as her savior at an early age. The family moved west and settled in Pleasant Home, Oregon when Donna was eleven years old. She graduated from Sandy High School before attending Northwest Bible College in Seattle where she met future husband Peter Tursa. The pair married on August 28, 1950 and settled in Portland where they had six children together. Peter passed away in 1981.
Donna kept extremely busy raising her children and entered the workforce later in life. She worked at Oregon Health Science University as a Unit Secretary before retiring at age 62. After retirement she married Bud Smith and enjoyed time spent at Bud's property in Ruffy Flats, California. Bud passed away in 2020.
Donna loved her family and always put the interests of her children above her own. She committed her time and resources to quality family experiences and was most proud of the accomplishments of her children. She created a warm, welcoming home filled with fun and activities. She was an excellent cook and among her many creations, her dinner rolls were legendary. Having one of her rolls fresh out of the oven is a treasured memory for her children. Her cinnamon rolls generated fierce bidding wars at family reunion bake sales. Donna enjoyed cake decorating and created many custom designs that delighted family and friends. Christmas was a treasured time of year and Donna made the season special for her family with many traditions that her children have carried on. It was an honor to be selected to read the Christmas story from Luke on Christmas Eve before opening presents. Each year she baked a delicious date-filled confection that her children couldn't wait to eat on Christmas morning. Donna had a fun side and was not above ingeniously adding salt year after year to coffee prepared on April Fool's day, to the consternation of those drinking it. Her methods were not easily discovered. At times she may have added extra pieces to jigsaw puzzles to give that extra challenge. Her good-natured pranks were all the more effective because of her straightforward and easygoing manner. Above all, Donna loved family times together. After a serious medical event late in her life, in response to a doctor's question she said that she had the event in order to get her family together.
Donna's Christian faith was central to her life. She loved reading her Bible and managed to wear out many Bibles from constant use over the years. She was kind, gentle, and loving and her life embodied the fruits of the spirit. She loved her church community and taught Sunday School, conducted Children's Church, and acted as Sunday School Superintendent. She had a heart for missions and consisently supported missions work. She attended Mocks Crest Church in Portland for many years while raising her children, and later in life attended Powell Valley Covenant Church and Pathway Church in Gresham. She loved traditional hymns.
Donna was an avid quilter and enjoyed attending quilt shows. She made many “quillows” for family and friends over the years. The quillows were made with love and treasured by all who received them. Donna enjoyed table games and was always ready for a game of Qwirkle or Swedish Yahtzee. She loved travel and particularly loved staying at the Oregon coast. One travel highlight was a trip to Israel where she was able to see locations where Jesus lived, and step in places where He walked.
Donna had a kind, gentle spirit that was evident to all who were fortunate enough to know her. She will be remembered for the unconditional love and support she provided at all times. She leaves a rich legacy as the matriarch of her family and will be deeply missed. We are comforted in knowing that Donna is together in paradise with her Savior and those who have passed before, and we will see her again.
Donna was preceded in death by her siblings: Loren Bennett, Johnny Bennett, Emma Penuel, Wanda Walton, Bob Bennett, Tom Bennett, Janet Farr; and her beloved daughter Valerie Tursa, who held a special place in her heart. Donna is survived by her siblings: Jim Bennett and Sue Anderson; her children: Carolyn Vallarta, Steve Tursa, Mary Armstrong, Jim Tursa, and Mark Tursa; her grandchildren: Jolyn Vallarta, Laurel Vallarta, James Vallarta, Joseph Vallarta, Mandy Tursa, Danica Armstrong, Jason Armstrong, Shawn Armstrong, Kabir Tursa, Zahan Tursa, Rebecca Tursa, and Cathy Tursa; and numerous great-grandchildren.
Living Word Fellowship will host a memorial service for Donna at 2pm on November 21, 2020. The address is 12700 Orient Drive in Boring, Oregon. This will be followed by a private graveside service at Cliffside Cemetery where Donna's ashes will be interred.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to missions work at Pathway Church, which was the last church that Donna attended, or to other missions organizations.
The family would love to hear your stories and memories of Donna. The Sandy Funeral Home website has a guestbook where these can be shared.