Donna Lee Newby

Donna Lee Newby, 86, of Red Bluff, California, passed on Sunday, February 26, 2023 in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. A graveside service will be held at a later date in Chamberlain, South Dakota. Cremation has taken place in accordance with her wishes. Memorials may be made in care of the family and will be designated at a later date. Online condolences may also be made at www.reverencefuneralparlor.com.

Donna Lee was born September 2, 1936, in Denver, Colorado to Avery and Dorothy (Combs) Newby. Though she did not finish school as a teenager, she later received her GED in 1991 and got the privilege of graduating the same year as her youngest daughter, Lora Lee. Donna Lee’s family was proud of this special accomplishment.

Donna Lee was a loving homemaker throughout her lifetime. She went on to raise five children: Connie, Rusty, Tim, Lance, and Lora Lee. She was always polite and easy-going, especially when it came to the parenting of her children.

Donna Lee loved going to bingo with her friends in South Dakota in her earlier years. She was a big animal lover, caring for her three cats, Pepper, MJ, and Sally the three-legged cat, as well as her daughter Lora Lee’s German Shepherd, Buster. She enjoyed staying busy with many hobbies such as gardening, watching the Denver Broncos, crocheting, and in her later years she took up coloring. When she wasn’t crafting, she could be found dancing and doing anything silly to make everyone laugh.

Donna Lee was known for being a strong willed, short in stature woman. Her family liked to joke that she would never be able to have a job as a store stocker because she wouldn’t be able to reach the shelves. Donna Lee also never drove a car because she couldn’t easily reach the pedals. She was a small, but mighty woman that will be greatly missed.

Survivors include her children, Connie Gallegos of Scottsbluff, NE, Rusty Newby of Alliance, NE, and Tim Newby, Lance Park, and Lora Lee Park of Red Bluff, CA; siblings, Ronnie Newby of Carson City, NV, Kenny Newby of Moorcroft, WY, Diana Furr of Centennial, CO, and Rena Mashek of Alliance, NE; six grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; and ten great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Avery and Dorothy; her sister, Delaine May Mordhorst; and her brother, Ricky Joe Newby.