Donna LaVon Treasure

Donna LaVon Olsen Treasure, 82, a resident of Aberdeen and Pocatello, passed away on June 11, 2011, at Pocatello Care and Rehab after a long and brave battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. 

Donna was born on November 30, 1928, to Donald and LaVon Marchant Olsen in Buhl, Idaho.  Her parents would move back to Lovell, Wyoming when Donna was a year old, and she lived there permanently until she was married.

Donna graduated from Lovell, High School, where she was active in marching band – clarinet, glee club, French club, the National Honor Society, and she was a frequent vocal soloist. Donna enjoyed working at the local drug store at the soda shop, and told many stories of how much fun she had in that position. Donna was named to the Court of Beauty her senior year, and received a music scholarship to Brigham Young University.  While at BYU, she participated in Opera Workshop, Madrigal Choir, and other musical groups. 

Donna went to work for Mountain States Telephone Company as an operator for several years.  It was there that she met Monte Jack Treasure, a lineman for the American Telephone and Telegraph Company.  They were married in Elko, Nevada on November 5, 1954.  Their marriage was later sealed in the Salt Lake City Temple. They were blessed with eight children: Melodie Treasure, West Jordan, Utah; Monte Treasure (Mary), Marysville, Washington, Donald Treasure (Eileen), Idaho Falls, Idaho; Michael Treasure (Rebecca), Springville, Utah; Tamara Treasure Kendell (Lynn), Pocatello, Idaho Gregory (Deceased), Elaina Treasure (Hall), Boise, Idaho; and Sean Ray Treasure, Pocatello, Idaho. 

Though Donna stayed at home for many years raising her children, she also held several jobs she enjoyed:  She worked at The Paris and The Modern Deb in downtown Pocatello, where she loved dressing the windows and working with clientele.  She worked at a toy store at Christmastime for several years, where her love of Madame Mademoiselle dolls was born.  Donna also had the difficult task of keeping the books for two family-owned businesses for over 30 years. 

Donna was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints all her life and held many positions:  Primary teacher and leader, visiting teacher, Relief Society teacher and leader, Ward chorister and choir director, and finally as a temple worker in the Idaho Falls Temple. 

Donna loved music more than anything.  She was the President of the Pocatello Music Club and an active participant for many years.  She sang in several choral groups in Pocatello and Aberdeen.  She loved listening to opera, and said “…she felt the heavens near” when she saw Les Miserables in Salt Lake City.  Donna was also an expert seamstress.  Her favorite thing to do was listening to beautiful music or to watch “The Nanny” or “The Golden Girls” while she sewed. Donna loved sewing for her family, and there are probably hundreds of warm fleece “cuddles” to prove it.

Donna is survived by her husband, Monte J. Treasure; a brother, Ronald Olsen, and two sisters, Ruth Brage, Sylvia Wamsley; seven children, 25 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.

Donna was preceded in death by her son, Gregory Lynn Treasure; her granddaughter, Angela Dawn Avila; her parents, and her brother, Gordon Olsen.

The last two years of her life were spent at Spring Creek Assisted Living Center in American Falls, Idaho, where she resided with her husband.  The family would like to thank the staff of Spring Creek for their loving assistance.

Funeral Services for Donna will be held on Saturday, June 18^th, 2011, at 2 PM at the LDS Chapel in Aberdeen, Idaho.  A viewing will be held on Friday, June 17^th, 2011, from 6-8 PM at Davis-Rose Mortuary, on 170 Idaho Street, American Falls, Idaho, and Saturday from 1-:45 PM.  The interment will follow services at Mountain View Cemetery in Pocatello.