- Date Of Birth: April 5, 1928
- Date Of Death: September 18, 2014
- State: Idaho
Dona Faye Nielson Larsen was born on April 5, 1928. She was the daughter of Vera Rinderknecht Nielson and John William Nielson. She was married to Dorrell Cole Larsen (who passed away November 2, 2013) for 63 years. Dona passed away in Boise on September 18, 2014, at the age of 86, surrounded by her loved ones.
Dona was raised on a farm in Cornish, Utah and was the youngest of three children. She had fond memories of growing up with her sister, Doris Josephine, and her brother, Arlyn William. Dona attended Utah State University where she graduated in Physical Education and played softball and volleyball.
In 1970, Dona began teaching P.E. fulltime at East Jr. High. She coached Girls’ Volleyball and Track every year that she taught there and her teams won more than twenty city championships during this time. She enjoyed coaching and was very proud of her students and their successes. She coordinated Jump Rope For Heart for the American Heart Association at East Jr. High on an annual basis. She walking to school every day, which helped her stay in great shape.
She will be greatly missed, but she has left a lasting legacy. She was especially humbled when the old East Jr. High site became part of Boise State University and was renamed Dona Larsen Park in her honor. It also meant a lot to her that the park was named one of the “Ribbon of Jewels” parks by Boise City Parks and Recreation. Her roots run deep in Boise; she truly loved the people and being a part of the community and was so moved by this recognition and legacy.
Remaining to cherish her memory are her ten children: Melodie, Cindy (Mark Anderson), Debra (David Huber), Kim (Susan), Jay (Angela), Darla, Laura (Michael Graff), Mark (Suzzie), Michael (Jennifer) and Holly; 31 grandchildren (Braden, Davis, Ivy, Alyssa, Nathaniel, Alexander, Austin, Brock, Skyler, Alexis, Agatha, Larsen, Clara, Hannah, Logan, McCall, Sinclaire, Cole, Sydney, Jamison, Vincent, Logan Tyco, Kincaid, Riley, Grace, Daniel, Luke, Lars, Liam, Gunnar and Carter); and seven great-grandchildren (Isla, Claire, Landon, Noah, Haley, Ruby and Grayson).
There will also be a balloon release at the Boise High School Homecoming game (between the 1st and 2nd quarters) at Dona Larsen Park on Friday night, September 26, to celebrate and remember Dona Larsen’s life.
