Donnette Stringham Smith

My mother passed away yesterday morning. She had a rich, wonderful life, but it seems like there is never enough time to be with those we love.

Here she is on her 80th birthday.

Her services will be streamed on the funeral home website.

Donnette Stringham Smith 1927-2022

Donnette Stringham Smith passed away October 8, 2022, in Orem, Utah, of causes incident to age. She was born December 27, 1927, in Salt Lake City, Utah, daughter of Dell Briant Stringham and Hildegard Schreiner Stringham, the oldest of five children and the only girl. She married James Richard Smith in 1949 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple.

Donnette grew up in a very active family. They would spend time together camping, fishing, boating, visiting national parks, and helping to pick fruit and to run the canning factories her father owned. She enjoyed time with her large extended family, having many aunts, uncles, and cousins as dear friends. She loved to read and to play baseball. Donnette learned to give dramatic readings and participated in many theater productions.

After graduating from Ogden High School, Donnette attended Brigham Young University, where she met her husband, Richard. Together they spent four years in Houston, Texas, where Richard earned a PhD in physics and the family had their first two children. While there, Donnette completed her degree in elementary education, graduating from BYU in absentia. Her dear mother-in-law attended her graduation ceremonies and took copious notes for her on the program.

After Richard’s graduation, the family moved to Idaho Falls, where they spent the next forty years. They built a home, where Donnette designed and tended a beautiful garden. Their back yard was the location for many memorable family activities. Donnette continued to develop a wide range of interests. In addition to reading extensively, she spent many hours researching family history and taught classes so others could do the same. She served in leadership and teaching roles in her local church congregation. She created a beautiful and well documented collection of local butterflies and participated in butterfly counts. Some of her butterflies are in the collections of the Smithsonian Institution and of BYU-Idaho. She sewed many of her family’s clothes, embroidering and smocking exquisite outfits for her children and grandchildren. Donnette did the costuming for local productions of Brigadoon and My Fair Lady. She taught fiber craft and cooking skills to her children’s peers via 4-H. She collected pop-up books, nativities, and camels. She learned to do traditional crafts such as wheat weaving and chair caning. She raised African violets. She traveled in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the Caribbean.

After Richard retired, they moved to Lindon, Utah, where they made many friends. Again, Donnette was active in the community and served on her local HOA board while continuing service in her local church congregation. She especially enjoyed being able to host monthly family dinners while many of her grandchildren were college and young adult ages.

Donnette is survived by her five children, Barbara (Weldon) Whipple of Orem, UT; David (Sharon)Smith of San Jose, CA; Cynthia (Larry) Allred of Lehi, UT; Rebecca (Gary) Chapman of Rexburg, ID; Stuart (Debbie) Smith of Orem, UT; 19 grandchildren, 10 step-grandchildren, 53 great grandchildren, and 22 step great-grandchildren.

A viewing will be held Friday, October 14, 2022, at the Walker-Sanderson funeral home at 646 E. 800 N. Orem, Utah, from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Funeral services will be held at the Lindon First Ward building 56 E. 600 North, Lindon, Utah, on Saturday, October 15. A viewing will take place from 9:30 am to 10:30 am, followed by the funeral service from 11:00 to 12:00, followed by the burial at Lindon Cemetery at 500 N 200 E, Lindon.

In lieu of flowers, the family would suggest donating to the Humanitarian Fund of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or to the charity of your choice. Condolences may be sent to the family at walkersanderson.com.