Donna M. Pierce

Donna M. Pierce, 74, passed away February 28, 2022 at her home in Missoula, MT. She was a resident of Missoula for 13 years and former resident of Rock Springs, WY. She died following a lengthy illness. Donna was born to the late Milo and Elizabeth Workman in Stockton, CA. on May 7, 1947. Throughout her life she wore many hats — she worked at the Rocket Miner Newspaper, Black Butte Coal, YWCA Safehouse and Allegiance Insurance. Her real passion was history. Most of her time was spent combing through the family tree to learn where exactly she came from. A simple question asked about Donna’s time in California would quickly spiral to a history lesson about how her gr-gr-grandmother Helena Catharina Von Aschwege Martins moved from Germany and ended up owning and operating a hotel in San Francisco. She had a flair for dramatics — using colorful phrases for the smallest of inconveniences like “shook me to my core,” and “I hate it with every fiber of my being,” among many others. The best way to get to know Donna was in email. In text, she truly came alive; she had a way with words. Donna was preceded in death by her husband, David Pierce, their numerous dogs (including Nikita, Freya, Macha, Maggie and Max), her brother, Mike Workman and her great-grandson Milo Jacobs. She is survived by her son Scott West, his wife, Leslie and their children Jaclynn (Luke Jacobs), Bowen and Alex West. She relished her role as Great Grandma to Sawyer, Mavis and Westley Jacobs, all of Missoula. Of course, she leaves behind her beloved German Shepherd — Ruger. No funeral or memorial service is planned. Any memorials in her name can be made to Hospice of Missoula or The ALS association.