Donna Yvonne Richardson

Wasilla resident Donna Yvonne Richardson, 77, died Aug. 12, 2008 of natural causes at Colony Manor in Wasilla. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 20 at Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel, 1015 S. Check Street in Wasilla.

Richardson was born Dec. 31, 1930 in Denver, Colo. She was a graduate of Renton High School in Renton, Wash. After high school, she married Russ Dafler on July 25,1950 in Fall City, Wash.

Richardson was employed as a nurse from the 1970s to the early 1980s at the Humana, Providence and Alaska Regional Hospitals in Anchorage. She retired from nursing in 1986. She was an avid knitter and crocheter. She knitted “Mary Maxima” sweaters all over Alaska and Canada. She also loved cooking, fishing and canning.

Her family said: “Mom loved her grandchildren and family. Warm and compassionate, she loved children, loved her home and taking care of it. She also loved taking care of her cat Bugsy.”

She was preceded in death by her former husband Russ Dafler.

She is survived by daughters Yvonne Lyons of Big lake, Wanita Payne of Anchorage and Debbie Dimico of Idaho; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; sister Lola Anderson of Wenatchee, Wash.; brother-in-law Bob Anderson; and several nieces and nephews.