Donna Mae Pond

Donna Mae Pond, 84 of Idaho Falls, died Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at the Ashton Memorial Nursing Home in Ashton. She was born September 27, 1927 in Driggs, Idaho to Eva Mackley. In 1928 Donna’s mother married Carl Oscar Josephson who, along with her mother raised her. She lived on the same farm that her grandfather Albert James Mackley had homesteaded in Middle Twin Canyon, west of Driggs. At the age of 8, the depression hit the family and they moved to Driggs. She worked for her uncle Art in his shoe shop in Driggs which helped her begin her sales career and her ability to meet the public. In 1945 she graduated from Teton High School, shortly after she worked at Hill Field in Ogden, Utah. At the end of WWII she returned to Driggs and worked at Teton Valley Hospital as their dietician. On July 20, 1946, she married Myron “Mike Richins in Driggs; they had one child, Marilyn Jo Richins. The family moved to Idaho Falls in 1958 and Donna worked as assistant manager of Ada’s Fashions for 6 years. She also worked as classified advertising manager at The Post Register and often said “If one ever gets ink in her blood, she can’t be happy in another type of work”. In 1960 she and Mike divorced. On March 7, 1971 she married Bob Pond in Elko, Nevada; they made their home in Boise and enjoyed traveling to many places. She visited several states and vacationed in the Bahamas and Florida. In 1975, she and Bob divorced. She worked for the Idaho Statesman, in executive sales, until retirement in 1992. In addition to her fulltime work, she was employed by Hertz Rent-a-Car at the Boise Airport for many years. Donna was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She formed the Falls Valleyettes and taught baton-twirling to girls. Besides traveling, Donna liked to embroider and crochet. She created many beautiful gifts for family and friends. She enjoyed music, pro-football, glamorous clothing and jewelry. Donna loved her daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren. She was pleased with the things they accomplished. The family gives special thanks to the Ashton Memorial Nursing Home for their love and care. She is survived by her daughter, Marilyn (Vance) Nelson, of Menan, ID, sister, Aloma (Rick) Phillips, of Tetonia, ID, three grandchildren, Devri (Brad) Daybell, of Broomfield, CO, Shilo (Eric) Cieslak, of Lake Villa, IL, Kambria (Mathew) Reeves, of Idaho Falls, ID and 12 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister, Darlene Casper, and brother, Dee Josephson. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, December 5, 2011, at Eckersell Memorial Chapel, 101 W. Main St. Rigby. The family will receive friends for one hour prior to service on Monday at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Cache-Clawson Cemetery in Tetonia, under the care of Eckersell Memorial Chapel in Rigby.