Donna Lee Hopfe-Handke was the last-born and grew up in Vancouver WA on a farm with her mother and father, Patricia Ruth and Alvin Hopfe. She had a horse, Princess, that she adored, and worked on her family's farm. Her greatest childhood memory was traveling to British Columbia and Alberta to visit her father's family, where many still live today.

After high-school she moved to sunny California to explore. There she welcomed her children, Dorrinda and Dain, into her life. She then returned to Vancouver, WA where she eventually settled to raised the two in Battle Ground, WA. Here, she enjoyed sewing, crocheting, crafts, gardening and gathering people. Donna even dipped her toes into grass-roots politics by having protest gatherings at her home. She despised board games, but loved to play cards. Oftentimes she would listen to albums to sing and dance. And Donna loved to walk...for walking sake. These were the simple pleasures she instilled in her children.

In Donna's next chapter, after the children left home, she met her husband-to-be at Frieghtliner, where she worked for two decades.  She lit up when her and Dan were together. Her true love had been found. Donna inherited two new daughters with this marriage, Pandy and Angie. Dan and Donna enjoyed dancing, walking the dog, visiting beaches and loved to go to the casinos. They traveled annually to the midwest and Colorado to visit Dan's cousins where they took pleasure in new scenery. After retirement, the biggest trip was a cross-country road trip visiting cousins on the way to see Dain’s family in Florida. Although Donna loved day trips and travel, she also enjoyed weekly lunch visits with friends and family.

The family grew and the two, Dan and Donna, became grandparents. Katie, Chrissy, Drew, Dani, Trenton and Jayce were a source of joy for them.

Donna unfortunately had diabetes most of her adult life along with other health issues. She was limited by shaking in her hands. In October of 2024 she contracted Covid and Pneumonia. Her health declined and then became precarious in January of 2025 when it was found that she had kidney failure. Donna passed peacefully on February 12, 2025.

Of her immediate family, Donna is survived by her husband, Daniel Handke, her children Dorrinda Carlson and Dain Huerta, as well as Renee Handke and Angelique Handke, plus the grandchildren. She also leaves behind her older sister, Faye Swain. 

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