Donna was born on August 16, 1931, in Spokane, WA to John and Minnie Schultz. She was the youngest of four children.  Her mother passed away when she was only two years old. Donna was truly raised by a village that included her father, older siblings, grandparents, and numerous aunts and uncles.

She attended elementary schools in Harrington, Odessa, Spokane, and junior high school in Olympia, WA. When having the opportunity to live at home with her dad and brother on the farm, she often talked about learning chores at an early age by trial and error, and about fishing and ice skating with her brother. At the age of 13 and after the remarriage of her father to Margaret, Donna gained a stepmother and five stepsisters. They lived on the family farm and attended school in Grandview.

Donna later attended and graduated high school from Upper Columbia Academy in Spangle, WA, in 1949. Donna attended Walla Walla College for two years, then moved to Spokane to attend Kinman Business School, and worked at Fairchild Air Force Base for five years. In December of 1956, Donna met Paul Senkler at the Arthur Murry Dance Studio, and they married February 9, 1957. They lived on the family wheat farm south of Hartline where they raised four children.

She became a member of St. Parick's Catholic Church, was an active member of the church's Altar Society, was a member of the local Grange, and was a proud and supportive parent for all school and sporting events with her children. While raising four children, Donna gardened, canned fruits and vegetables, sewed, and cooked for harvest crews. Donna and Paul moved to Spokane in 1991. During retirement she had time for hobbies, such as quilting, building elaborate dollhouses, flower gardening, and watching grandchildren's sporting events and GU basketball games. Donna was a competitive game player, loved celebrating holidays with family, and her favorite dessert was homemade pie.

Being raised by extended family, Donna never complained, learned to work hard, and made the most of what she was given. She knew the importance of family. For Donna making a home and raising her family were her pride and joy. She had a determined and resilient spirit, overcoming many serious medical setbacks and over 12 years of dialysis.

Donna is survived by her children Becky and Mike Clift (Spokane), Brian Senkler (Hartline), Gary Senkler (Coulee City), and Jill Avery (Auburn), five grandchildren Elizabeth (Robert), Matthew (Dhanya), Carissa (Mike), Cortney (Kurt), and Alex. She also enjoyed two great grandchildren, Zachary and Anya, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband Paul, her parents, and three older siblings, Lenora, Ruth, and Melvin. Donna was happiest surrounded by family and in her Spokane home of 33 years. Just after celebrating her 93rd birthday, Donna passed away on Saturday, August 24 at Sunshine Health & Rehab. At peace and free of illness and pain, her family believes she is in heaven playing pinochle with her brother and sisters and sewing her 100th quilt.

A Memorial Service will be held on October 12, 2024, at 11:00 am at Holy Cross Cemetery Chapel, 7200 N. Wall St., Spokane. Her online memorial page can be found at www.holycrossofspokane.org