Donna Mae (Peterson) Hart

Our lovely, Donna Mae Peterson Hart, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on February 23, 2023.

Donna was born December 17, 1928 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Walter Owen Peterson and Auline Norberg Peterson.  She was the first child of four girls and two boys. 

She attended Highland Park elementary school, Irving Junior High, South High school and later in life after the death of her husband Neal, she attended the University of Utah and obtained her bachelor’s degree in education.  She went on to teach 13 years at Hawthorne elementary school in Salt Lake.  She loved her years of teaching and continued to volunteer after her retirement.

In the summer of 1947, Donna worked at her father’s business, Sugar House Awning Co.  Next door was Hart Brothers Music where she would often buy music and records.  Working there was Neal Hart.  On July 4, 1947 in the mountains of Brighton they truly fell in love and wanted to be married.   Two days later Neal had a diamond ring and they were engaged after two weeks of dating.  (Brighton and the surrounding mountains are still her favorite place.) Donna and Neal were married on May 6, 1948 in the Salt Lake temple by Elder Ezra Taft Benson, a Hart family friend from Preston, Idaho. They were blessed to be the parents of six boys and one daughter.

Donna was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served in many leadership positions within the Relief Society, Young Women and Primary organizations.  She served a Church Service mission at the History Department and was an ordinance worker at the Salt Lake Temple.  Donna enjoyed many lifetime friends whom she loved dearly.  

Donna loved to travel and went on many wonderful trips with family.  She especially loved the beauty of the Utah mountains and National Parks.  She looked forward to an annual family gathering at Newport Beach, California where she traveled for 25 years.

Donna’s family is united by faith, love and kindness and is her precious legacy.  She is survived by her children: Wayne (Elaine) Hart, Jim (Laurel) Hart, Bill (Gay) Hart, Steve (Cookie) Hart, Scott (Lori) Hart and Suzy (Whit) Wettstein,  She was preceded in death by her husband Neal, a son Chuck Hart, a sister Carol Sevy, brother-in-law Don Sevy and her parents.  Her surviving siblings include Elden (Barbara) Peterson, Kathryn (Lynn) Jones, Walter (Susan) Peterson, Marian (Rand) Perrier.

Donna has 26 living grandchildren, 2 deceased grandsons, 84 great grandchildren, and 1 deceased great granddaughter.  The posterity of Neal and Donna is currently numbered at 150.

The family would like the thank Canyon Home Care & Hospice nurses Dani Stoker, Heather Brenner and aide Juana Soto who provided such loving care to Donna over the past three years.

Funeral services will be held March 11, 2023, 11:00 am at the Canyon Rim Stake center located at 3051 South 2900 East, Salt Lake City, Utah, with a viewing prior from 9:30-10:30 am.  A viewing will also be held March 10, 6:00-8:00 pm at Holbrook Mortuary located at 3251 South 2300 East, Salt Lake City, Utah.