Our wonderful mother, Donna M. Berg, passed away unexpectedly, on May 3, 2023 at her Mt. Vernon home with daughter-in-law,  Ann by her side at the age of 87, and has triumphantly entered her heavenly home.

Donna was born in Everett, WA on February 16, 1936 to Ernest G. and Lucille M. Gallagher. Due to her parent's divorce and her dad's military service she was raised by a farming foster family, and so began her lifelong love of animals, especially horses. However her greatest childhood joy was having a baby brother, Michael Gallagher born on May 10, 1947 to Ernest & Alice Gallagher.

She attended Everett High School, where she met several lifelong friends, including her future husband. She graduated in 1953, and married Eugene W. Berg on September 30, 1953. And so began her lifelong tolerance of auto racing, as their first date was at Aurora Speedway. She loved the Berg family for their stability and was adored by her new in-laws, Sidney & Golda Berg. Gene was then drafted into the Army, and they moved to Denver, Colorado.

In 1956, after the military commitment they relocated to Everett and Gene went to work for Lucille's husband Vic Conaway at his towing and auto repair business. They started their family with Sheree, Scott and Eric in rapid succession, relocated to the Marysville countryside in 1964, adding horses, cows, chickens, dogs and cats…and Brett came along in 1967. Donna was an amazing stay at home mom. Meals were on time, clothes were pressed, floors were polished and us kids were greatly loved. Occasional discipline came in the form of a yardstick to the butt until it broke, and we laughed. Donna and Sheree went on to compete in numerous horse shows for several years with great success and family vacations were usually camping in the Methow Valley often with the Iffrig family.

In the early seventies Donna's Catholic roots and Lutheran religion changed dramatically as she encountered a Living God. She immersed herself in bible study with her good friend Charlotte and became a respected bible teacher. Her newfound faith influenced numerous people and brought salvation to her entire household. In the later seventies as Sheree went to ECC and Scott to WSU, she decided to follow her desire of higher education, obtaining an associate degree from ECC with a 4.0 GPA and becoming an RN. Most of her nursing career was spent at Snohomish Family Medicine where she enjoyed all of the staff relationships especially as she worked for Dr. Jonathan Bishop. Donna did not travel much but she was included in the delivery of a brand-new Boeing 747 to Hong Kong, riding in the cockpit as the plane landed.

In late 2000 Donna fulfilled another dream by purchasing property in the Methow Valley in Carlton, where the population is 3 people per square mile. Donna and Gene put up fencing, assembled a barn, and created a place to retire. Horses and possessions were moved, and the process was underway. Unfortunately Gene's ongoing heart disease manifested itself again and he passed away July 29, 2002. Donna moved back to her Marysville home alone. In 2004 she sold her home and moved the equine, canine, feline operation to Skagit County, put up fencing and built another barn. For the next 13 years she stayed active caring for all of her animals. And much credit goes to her first and most patient grandson Josh, who helped with all of the chores. She joined a new church and was active in bible study, prayer ministry and a weekly drive to the Everett jail to minister to the women inmates.

In 2017, after the passing of the 35-year-old horse and her two large dogs, and giving away the 26-year-old horse, re-homing the two barn cats, the country girl moved to town, relocating to a 55+ neighborhood. She continued to be healthy enough to live independently on her own. She was well known for her talkativeness and if you were to have met her today, she would say, "Hi my name is Donna and I have had shingles for over a year."

She is survived by her brother, Michael Gallagher (Arlene); her children, Sheree (Steve), Scott (Ann), Eric (Carmen), Brett(Tracy); grandchildren, Josh (Ashley), Brittany (Joe), Jake (Addie), Larissa (Daniel), Alicia (Owen), Ashlee (Nate), Dalton (Hailey), Ryan (Janet); 8 great grandchildren; her dog  Eli and cat Tabitha.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Eugene W. Berg; father,  Ernest Gallagher (Alice); mother, Lucille Conaway (Vic)

A memorial service will be held at 2:00, Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at Big Lake Community Church of the Nazarene with Pastor Dennis Spinnie presiding.  Interment was held at Tahoma National Cemetery on May 16, 2023.  Share your memories of Donna and sign the online guest register.