Donna (Bykonen) Spencer

Donna Mae (Bykonen) Spencer was born December 3, 1929 to Vernon and Lena (Honrud) Bykonen. She passed away peacefully with family by her side on August 18, 2023 at Logan Health Nursing Home in Shelby.

She married Phil Spencer on March 1, 1949. To this union they had 4 children: Pat, Mike, Kathy, and Chuck. They farmed near Sunburst for several years and sold the farm in 1987. Donna was a hard worker all her life! After the farm sold, she worked at Northern Telephone and Sunburst Elementary School as a janitor and later, she worked as a CNA at the Toole County Hospital and Nursing Home in Shelby for many years. She was a natural caregiver so her role as a CNA was very fulfilling. In her later years, she enjoyed calling bingo at the Heritage in Shelby. She always enjoyed being out and about! She looked forward to going to coffee and visiting with family and friends, perusing the aisles at the Dollar Store, and taking trips to visit family. She was always very supportive of her family by attending concerts, sporting events, plays, and much more. She made each of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren feel very special. They all miss her very much!

She is preceded in death by her parents, Vernon and Lena Bykonen; loving husband, Phil; son, Chuck; daughter, Pat; daughter-in-law, Mary Ann Spencer; son-in-law, Paul Schwenke, great[1]granddaughter, Meghan Okon; sister, Arlee Marlow and her husband, Chet; brother, Doren Bykonen and his wife, lane; brother, Alan Bykonen and his wife, Betty; brother, Galen (Bunky) Bykonen and his wives, Delores and Bess; brother-in-law, Don Bastian; nephew, Doug Marlow and his children, Mike and Sally; nephew, Jack Bastian; and, grandson-in-law, Mike Lamey.

She is survived by her sister, Marlene Bastian; son, Mike Spencer of Shelby; daughter, Kathy Schwenke of Shelby; grandchildren: Kari (James) Lamey Tyler, Jenny (Dallas May) Schwenke, Janet Schwenke, Samantha (Cory) Clark, Jackie Smitherman, Marci (Brett) Huntsinger, Matt (Amanda) Spencer, Tony (Dawn) Spencer-Bye, and Randy (Shyla) Spencer-Bye; great[1]grandchildren: Kress Lamey, Maesynne Lamey, Kraye Lamey, Ethan (Rebecca) Schwenke, Alex Zimmerman, Elias Smitherman, Caden Huntsinger, Paetyn Gouge, Teleigh Spencer, Brekken Spencer, Kysen Spencer, Cori Bye, Bailey Bye, and Mathew Bye; and great-great-grandchildren, Gabriella and Isabella Ewing, and Scarlett Schwenke.

Funeral Services will be held at Whitted Funeral Chapel in Shelby with a 9:00 am viewing and lO:OO am service on Saturday, September 9, 2023 with burial services at Mountain View Cemetery in Shelby. A reception to follow at Dick Irvin Trucking conference center (lower level).