Donna Marie Rowold

Donna Marie Lovich Rowold passed, as she said, “from the arms of a loving family to the arms of a loving Savior” on December 5 in Polson, Montana. Born in Lorain, Ohio on October 4, 1952, she attended Concordia Junior College in Ann Arbor, Michigan and Concordia Teachers College in River Forest, Illinois, where she received her Bachelors of Arts in Education degree. Having met Paul Rowold in Ann Arbor, they married in 1975. Donna taught grade school in St. Louis, Missouri while Paul attended Christ Seminary-Seminex. They moved to serve Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Rockford, Illinois following seminary graduation in 1978, and then to Englewood, Colorado in 1986, where they served at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church. During these years Donna gave birth to 3 daughters: Faith Allen (husband Shawn) now in New York City, Katherine Rowold (husband Elias) in Polson, Montana, and Stephanie Haines (husband Cory) in Missoula, Montana. During their 20 years at Good Shepherd Lutheran in Polson (1996-2017) Donna served as Minister of Music, organist and choir director. She made many contributions to Polson civic life, including directing the mass choirs of Palm Sunday Choral Festivals and co-founding the Flathead Flute Choir. Donna and Paul’s commitment to the Christian community in Palestine saw them lead numerous groups to the Holy Land.

Donna is survived by husband Paul, 3 daughters, 2 grandchildren, mother Betty Lovich and brother David Lovich (wife Dainty) of Atlanta, Georgia, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held on December 14 at 11 AM at Faith Lutheran Church in Ronan, Montana. In lieu of flowers, contributions are suggested to Bright Stars of Bethlehem, Mission Valley Friends of the Arts, or Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp.