Donalda (Dona) Joyce Leavens Life Story

Dona was born in Weyburn SK. She lived with her parents, Harold & Alda, and her brother Merle.
Harold & Alda operated a small farm. They had a dairy herd and provided cream to the Souris Valley Home in Weyburn. The farming operation included growing grain, raising beef cattle, chickens and turkeys. Dona remembers those years fondly, she felt she had a great upbringing, and admitted she was a little spoiled.

Dona became pregnant in grade 12. She said that her parents were so supportive of her during this difficult time. Dona had a daughter she named Dawn Marie Leavens. Dawn was given up for adoption, her name was changed to Janet by her adoptive parents.

The next year Dona moved to Regina to pursue a nursing career at the Regina General Hospital.
After graduation she worked in the newborn nursery at that Regina General. Dona always loved babies, one in particular had been born several months prematurely, it was uncertain if it could survive. The practice was that babies stayed in the hospital until they reached the expected original delivery date. Dona became quite attached to the baby after seeing at work for months.
After a few years Dona was finding shift work challenging. The operating room offered a new challenge and more regular work hours. She found the work very interesting but at times quite tense, when an operation was not going well. Dona often came home from work with interesting stories.

Dona married Harold Heidinger in 1972. Life was good, a job, money, the freedom to do whatever you wanted. In 1976 along came Liesl. What a life changing experience. The carefree life was over, but Dona had her own baby to love.

In 1977 they moved to Redvers, SK. And purchased an insurance agency. Dona worked part time, in the insurance agency until she stared getting shifts at the hospital in Redvers.

In 1978 Dona became pregnant again, the house was too small for 4 people, an addition was put on.
In 1979 Devin arrived.

The child rearing years were happy and exciting, always something new and different. The feeling of being loved unconditionally, watching your children grow and learn, what an exhilarating experience.
There was a lot of travel in those years, a camper trailer was home for a lot of the summers. Children’s performances and events were demanding but also very rewarding.

Dona left the Redvers hospital and took a job in Carlyle doing home care nursing. She started visiting clients but her supervisor soon recognized Dona’s talents would be put to better used in the home care office. She really enjoyed that job, the staff she worked with became her friends.

The family moved to Kamloops in 1994 to start a Family Entertainment business.
Dona was told if she wanted to continue nursing in BC she would need to start from the bottom and work her way back up again. That was the end of her nursing career. She was now magically changed into a business person. Business was exciting and fun for her but unfortunately not that lucrative.

The years in Kamloops were filled with travel. Dona loved travel, it was always enjoyable and exciting. Dona & Harold visited all the Canadian provinces and most of the US states. International trips included several trips to Mexico, and several cruises. Some of the more memorable trips were to New Zealand and China.

Retirement, unfortunately started too late and ended too soon. The retirement years were pleasant and enjoyable, nothing to worry about. Health problems and Covid made the final few years more trying.