Donna Youngblood

Donna Lee (Zeiger) Youngblood was born on April 22, 1935, to William “Bill” and Missouri Elizabeth (Watts) Zeiger in Rawlins, Wyoming. She departed this life on January 27, 2025, at Rock Point Nursing Home in Birch Tree, Missouri, at the age of 89 years. 

Donna grew up in Saratoga, Wyoming just at the foothills of the Snowy Range in the mountains of Wyoming. Donna loved the mountains. She, her family, and her friends enjoyed swimming year-round in the natural hot springs, ice skating, and eating snow cream. 

After graduation, Donna went to work as a bookkeeper for Crow Lumber Company. There she met the love of her life Doug Youngblood. Her brother Bud introduced the young couple. Dad said, “She had my heart at the first bite of her coconut cream pie”. After three months on June 25, 1955, the young couple were united in marriage, and to this union, two children were born. Kim (Youngblood) Bland and Henry Leo “Hank” Youngblood. 

After moving to Missouri Donna worked at Paramount Cap factory. Later the couple owned and operated T h e Winona Farmers Exchange. Then moving on to working for the Winona R-3 school system working her way up to head cook. Donna loved children. She would go in on weekends or stay after work preparing for a Thanksgiving dinner or a special occasion at school. It was important to her that each child knew they were welcome and loved in the lunchroom. 

As kids growing up I didn’t know just how loved and blessed we really were. Mom read a bedtime story to us just about every night. Lying on her tummy with us looking for bugs in the grass. Lying on a quilt looking up at the stars. She could name all the star constellations (I could not see anything). In the kitchen she made pasties for birthday dinners, which is a Pennsylvania Dutch dish. Mom always was teaching us by example. She wasn’t outspoken, but she lived before us God’s word. I have often heard her say “It’s your choice, this is what I have chosen and it has served me well”. I have never heard my mother say a cuss word. She lived her life parallel to the Bible, humble, showing love and kindness always with dignity. Her last words were “I am going to start supper for your dad he will be hungry when he gets home”. 

She leaves to morn her passing her children, Kim (Garry) Bland and Hank (Linda) Youngblood; grandchildren, Susanna Needels, Larry (Katrina) Cowen, Steven (Natalie) Bland, and Savanna (Matthew) Neal; great-grandchildren, Grant, Kiley, Breyer, Emma, Caleb, Aleigh, Micah, Ila, Warren, and Stella; and a large family of nieces, nephews, and friends out west as well as family and friends in Missouri. Mom never failed to say “Tell my family that I love them”. She will be loved and missed by all who knew her. 

Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 1, 2025, at Yarber Mortuary, Winona, Missouri, with Bro. Darrell Derryberry officiating. Visitation was held prior to the service from 10-11:00 a.m. also at the funeral home. Interment was in Munsell Cemetery, Eminence, Missouri. Condolences may be expressed at www.yarbermortuary.com