Dona Butler

Dona Butler passed away peacefully in Olympia, WA, on April 26th, 2026.

Dona Idele Lambier was born June 25th, 1933, to Robert and Elfa Lambier, in Spokane, WA. She was the youngest of 8 children (Iva, Ilah, Liva, Lola, Bob, Darwin, and LuElla) and grew up on the family farm in Clayton, WA.

 She quickly earned the nickname ‘Hap’ as she always had a smile on her face. She trained as a nurse at Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane, during which time she met her future husband, William Butler, on a blind date. They married on August 19th, 1955, in Los Angeles, where she worked in a doctor’s office while William went to college. She then stayed home to raise their four children: Bill (Patty), Bonnie (Bruce), David, and Deborah Scott). 

During this time, she also volunteered in the schools, as a scout leader, and at Well Baby Clinics. William’s work as a forest service ranger had them living throughout the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, finally ending up in Grants Pass, OR. Grants Pass was a wonderful home where they were proud members of the Cavalry Lutheran Church, where she volunteered in the kitchen. Dona & Will enjoyed traveling in their retirement and visiting their 9 grandchildren: Farren (Chris), Tierney, Pete, Jennifer, Roy, Mollie (Charles), Hunter, Haley (Josh), and Max. Dona was thrilled to welcome two great-grandchildren, Presley (Mollie) and Atlas (Farren). 

Family was so important to Dona, and she was pleased to be ‘Aunt Hap’ to so many nieces and nephews. Throughout her life, she was an avid reader and enjoyed crochet and cross-stitching. She played cards (especially cribbage; a Lambier family tradition) and enjoyed taking long walks with her family.

 She lost her loving husband in 2015 after a battle with cancer. In 2020, she moved to Olympia, WA, to be closer to family and found a wonderful home overlooking the Capitol Building. She enjoyed her social circle at Harbor Heights and learned to play mahjong and Hand & Foot. She loved doing jigsaw puzzles and could always be found in the bakery line at Olympia’s Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings or walking around downtown on her daily walks. Dona was loved by so many and will be greatly missed.