Donna Jean Dalton

Donna Jean Dalton was born on April 15, 1941 in San Francisco, California. Donna’s Dad Vernon Buesen was a Journeyman cabinet-maker and her Mom Jean Silsby Buesen stayed home to raise her children, including Donna’s brother Barney who was born 8 years later.

Donna had a pretty typical 1940’s and 1950’s childhood living in Oakland, California and attending School there. She was a little bit of a “tom boy”, playing games in the park (including football!). Unfortunately, in the 1950’s in Oakland High School, there were no organized sports for girls because she would have been an outstanding athlete. Donna’s mom taught her well to be a mid-century wife, teaching her to be an excellent cook and beautiful seamstress. She would sew all her own clothes and later her own ( and others) wedding dress. On New Year’s Eve 1957, she was set up on a blind date with Ernie Dalton by Ernie’s best friend Ed Coats. Donna was only 16 and Ernie 18, but they were pretty well inseparable for the next 68 years until she passed away on October 14,1941 2025. Ernie and Donna were married on June 24, 1960 and lived in the Bay Area for the first few years. Donna worked as a bank bookkeeper for the next year while Ernie finished college. In 1961, her first son was born, but unfortunately died at 6 weeks from a heart defect. This brought great sadness to her heart, but in true Donna fashion, she was pregnant again and gave birth to her son Jeff. From then on she spent the rest of her life a as a “super mom”. Donna was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1963, then went on to adopt her beautiful daughter Laura when she and Ernie were in Idaho for three years. When Ernie was transferred back to California in 1969, they bought a house on Garner Lane in Chico where, despite doctor’s recommendations, with true “Donna determination” she gave birth to her third child, Shane. Donna lived in Chico for the next 56 years until she passed peacefully at home October 14th. In lieu flowers, charitable donations can be made to support the Alzheimer’s Association or the Butte Rose Society in care of Brusie Funeral Home.