LaDonna R. Firebaugh

LaDonna R. Firebaugh, 80, longtime Moses Lake resident passed away Sunday, December 25, 2011 at her home. 

Services were held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, December 27, 2011 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Rose Street Chapel with Bishop Don Tucker conducting.  Viewing will be from 10 to 10:45 a.m. at the church. Interment will be at 11 a.m., Friday, December 30, 2011 at the Salmon Cemetery in Salmon, Idaho.  Please sign the online guestbook or leave a note for the family at www.kayserschapel.com.   Arrangements are in care of Kayser's Chapel & Crematory, Moses Lake.

LaDonna Ruth (Clark) Firebaugh was born June 30, 1931 to the late William Ezra Clark and Norma (Helmer) Cox in Dickinson, North Dakota. LaDonna was the oldest of 7 children.  She has 3 sisters, LaVinna Stroud (Bedford), Martha Wolf (James) and Abbie Stokes (Clee) and 3 brothers Charles, Elza and John Cox.  Being the oldest child she helped raise her younger siblings.  She was born during the Depression and the family made many moves including Montana, Utah and Arizona with the last being to Salmon, Idaho in April of 1948.

This was where she met her companion of 61 years, William "Bill" Firebaugh.  After a short courtship they were married on July 7, 1948 in Missoula, Montana.  They moved to Moses Lake in 1966 where they began farming. LaDonna loved the out-of-doors and loved farming and working alongside Bill.  She was a loving wife and mother of two children whom she cared for with tender loving care.  LaDonna was very talented with her hands and crocheted, knitted, tatted, embroidered, made many beautiful paper roses and sewed many beautiful pillow cases, tablecloths, sweaters and doilies.  She sewed many cute outfits for her siblings, children and grandchildren.  She loved to do crafts and did many projects.  She especially loved when her son, David, helped her with bigger projects like coffee tables and outdoor plywood Christmas ornaments, etc.  She was a gifted homemaker and taught herself cake decorating and candy making.  Her relatives looked forward to receiving her hand-dipped chocolates for Christmas.  No one could make a banana cream pie or German chocolate cake like Mom.  She made and decorated many wedding cakes including her daughter, Pat's, Wedding cake. 

LaDonna was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and spent many loving hours searching family genealogy and learned to love her ancestors.  She served in various church positions, but loved teaching the 4 year olds and 10 year old merrie miss classes best.  She definitely had patience for all. 

She loved having her 3 grandchildren come and spend time with her.  They spent time coloring, cooking, putting puzzles together, playing games and totally enjoying time spent with Grandma.  You could never find a more kind or loving grandma.  In later years when her health was not good she remained cheerful and enjoyed the visits and hugs from her grandchildren as they grew into adulthood.  She was also a sweet "Grandma Great" to her 4 great grandchildren (Hunter, William and Amelia Butterfield and Seth

Wagner).  Her great joy was truly her family, extended family and close friends.  She spent many hours on the phone talking to her sisters and brothers, but she especially enjoyed the personal visits whenever possible. 

She is survived by her son, David Firebaugh of Moses Lake; her daughter and son-in-law, Patricia and Larry Butterfield of Moses Lake; 3 grandchildren, Mark Butterfield and wife

Liz of Moses Lake; Stephanie Wagner and husband Justin of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Eric Butterfield and wife Charlene of Rex burg, Idaho and many nieces and nephews whom she loved to keep in touch with. 

She was preceded in death by her husband William "Bill" Firebaugh, brothers, Elza Cox and George Clark, and her parents.