Donna Faye French Thornburg
July 1, 1942 ~ April 11, 2026
Resided in: Gainesville, Florida
Donna Faye French Thornburg
July 1, 1942 – April 11, 2026
Donna Faye French Thornburg, 83, passed away April 11, 2026.
She was born July 1, 1942, in Winchester, Indiana, to Forrest French and Doris French Huston. She graduated from Lee L. Driver High School in 1960 and later attended business college.
In 1963, she married Gene Thornburg in Winchester, beginning a loving marriage that spanned more than 50 years. During Gene’s 30-year career with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service, the family lived in Indiana, Washington, and Michigan before settling in Bozeman, Montana, for 20 years. They later moved to Helena in 1999.
Donna was a devoted and loving mother, known for her kindness and compassion for others and for animals. She especially enjoyed birdwatching and time spent outdoors and loved spending time with her grandchildren. She had a wonderful sense of humor, a joy for music, and loved dancing—particularly square dancing and waltzing—and was known for making wonderful pancakes for her grandchildren.
Donna is survived by her children: Lisa Lesofski (Gary) of Helena; Leslie Washburn (Scott) of Winter Garden, Florida; and Brian Thornburg (Carri) of Meridian, Idaho; six grandchildren, Lawrence (Alexis) Lesofski, Matt (Caitlyn) Lesofski, Davis and Sidney Washburn, and Charlotte and Mykenna Thornburg; and her brother, Duane French of Palm Springs, CA.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Gene, and her brother, Merritt French.
No services are planned at this time.
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We met Donna and Gene when my husband starting working for the Soil Conservation Service in Rockville,In. They were great friends to us. I am sorry to hear of her passing.