LaDonna Jean (Vaughn) Harper

LaDonna Jean (Vaughn) Harper, daughter of Arthur Vaughn Sr. and Jean Vaughn, was born on Sept. 12, 1955 in North Dakota. She died of respiratory failure at the age of 57 on Saturday, May 25, 2013 at Northern Rockies Medical Center in Cut Bank.  Whitted Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.  Condolences may be posted to www.whittedfuneralchapel.com

LaDonna’s wishes were to be cremated and set free during a private family ceremony at her home in Great Falls. Family and friends are invited to celebrate LaDonna’s life at her daughter’s business, The Pioneer Bar, on Wednesday, May 29 at 5 p.m.

She was raised on the Denzer farm west of Cut Bank. She attended elementary and high school there and achieved her GED later in life. She married Larry Harper in July of 1973. Larry and LaDonna started a family together and had two amazing children.

She worked as a waitress at the Big Sky Cafe and later managed the Terrace and Conrad Motels for several years. During her years as manager of both motels, she ran the businesses as if they were her own. Any projects that needed to be done, whether it be plumbing, electrical, carpentry, landscaping, etc., with pride, LaDonna would teach herself how to accomplish the tasks.

She had a passion for animals and cared for and treated them as if they were her children. Her love for animals extended beyond just domestic pets. She had a variety of pets ranging from cats, dogs and ferrets to raccoons, rabbits and deer. One of her more extreme pets was a porcupine, which she was able to tame enough that she could sleep with it. Could you imagine sleeping with a porcupine? LaDonna could! The only animal that she didn’t care for was the rattlesnake, which she encountered quite a few times in her life.

LaDonna became a daughter to many through her caring and loving ways. She grew very attached to several elderly friends and they felt the same toward her. LaDonna had an unselfish love for people. She quickly became friends with anyone she met, whether it be the person helping her with her groceries or the lady she met working in her yard as LaDonna was on her way to physical therapy. She had an open heart and was eager to become friends with anyone.

LaDonna and her family were very proud of everything she had achieved in her life. On her own, through her dedication and hard work, she was able to pay cash for her first brand new car. She took great pride in the house and five acres that she purchased north of Great Falls in 2002, which she filled with many treasures and animals. LOL!

LaDonna was a wonderfully devoted mother and grandmother. Her four grandchildren were the light of her life. She loved spoiling them with special trinkets and an abundance of love. One of her treasured moments was taking part in the delivery of her last grandson.

LaDonna is survived by her daughter Tanya Harper (Ludley) of Cut Bank; her son Dusty Harper (Robin) of Woodinville, Wash.; four grandchildren Tyler, Dahnai, Jacob and Zoe; her mother Jean Vaughn of Great Falls; one sister Beverly (Butch) Zahn of Williston, N.D., their children Bobbi Jo (Troy) Wicorek of Williston, and Blake (Kristy) Zahn of Waukegan, Ill.; one brother Arthur (Donna) Vaughn Jr. of Conrad, and their son Doug Vaughn of Texas; her former husband Larry Harper of Woodinville; her boyfriend, Bob Hoskins and his son Casey of Great Falls; and many other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her father Arthur Vaughn Sr.; and niece, Crystal Vaughn Harrell.

She fought a courageous battle with cancer and had a lifelong struggle with severe allergies. Her family takes comfort in knowing that she is watching over them in Heaven and now can enjoy the many wonderful scents that she was forced to avoid her entire life. They are thankful that she has been set free from her pain.

The family wishes for any memorials to be donated in LaDonna’s honor to the Cut Bank Animal Shelter.