Donna Belle Nicholson Durfee

Donna Belle Nicholson Durfee, age 87, passed away peacefully on Friday, May 9, 2025, at Covington Senior Living. She was born July 24, 1937, in Salt Lake City to Hjalmar Edwin Nicholson and Wilma Jean Peters Nicholson. She grew up in Provo on the corner of 3rd North and 3rd West. She lived there until her marriage.

Donna attended Timpanogos Elementary School, Dixon Jr. High School, and graduated with honors from Provo High School in 1955, where she was a cheerleader.

She graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Elementary Education in 1959. While at BYU, she was on the International Folk Dancing Team, and that's where she met Lyman James Durfee. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on August 10, 1959.

Donna served faithfully in many church callings since being baptized as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1956, including Stake Primary President, Relief Society President, Primary President, Merrie Miss Leader, and Webelos Leader.

Donna served on the PTA councils where her children attended school.

Donna was talented in so many areas. She was an artist, a writer of poems and skits, a reader, she was creative, but very organized, she sang and played the piano, she was very smart, and loved learning. She had great integrity and charity. Her favorite activity was being with her family and making and doing things for and with them.

Donna is survived by her four children, Ryan (Debra) Durfee, Jason (Pauline) Durfee, Janae (Bob) Church, and Dallin (Memorie) Durfee, and her 12 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her beloved sister, Barbara Slaymaker. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband.

We want to express our thanks to all the staff at Covington Senior Living of Orem for the love and care they have given her these past 3 years.

Donna did not want a viewing or a funeral, so a very short graveside service will be held at the Orem City Cemetery, 1520 North 800 East, Orem, on Tuesday, May 20th at 11:00 am.

Condolences for the family may be expressed on this page.