Donna Louise Strong

Donna Louise Strong, 85, passed away peacefully in her sleep April 19, 2016 in Scott City Kansas. 

Donna was born in Helena, Montana June 29, 1930 to Bernice and George H. Gloege.  She had three brothers, Marvin (Helena, 1932), Randall (Helena 1934), and Wayne (Miles City, 1943).  By 1948 the family had moved from Helena, to Great Falls, to Billings, to Miles City, and back to Billings following her father’s various positions as a high school teacher and Principal. Donna graduated high school in Billings, went to Eastern Montana College her freshman and sophomore years, than transferred to University of Colorado, Boulder, where she got her BS in Business Accounting, one of three women in her degree program.



Donna moved to Wichita in the summer of 1952 for a job with Boeing, where she worked for 9 years. There she met Robert A. Strong in 1955 through her membership in the “Altitudians,” a club for tall people. They were married on December 27, 1955 (since divorced). Together they had two children, Greg (1962) and Brenda (1966), and moved to Valley Center KS in 1976.  After 16 years as a stay-at-home mom, she returned to work full time in 1978. Donna worked at Wichita State University for 17 years before she retired.


Retirement enabled Donna to embrace her favorite pastime, reading—she was known to devour a book per day, and particularly loved a good mystery. She enjoyed many years singing with the Sweet Adeline’s in her early retirement, and was an avid traveler as well. Favorite trips included Hawaii, Washington D.C., Alaska, New England, Texas hill country, and the canyons of Utah. Donna also volunteered at the Valley Center Elementary Schools, the Wichita Botanica Gardens, Riverside Hospital and Exploration Place.

Donna moved to Scott City in in 2008 to be near her son and his wife. Donna was preceded in death by her parents and brothers. Donna is survived by her daughter Brenda Strong, Chicago, IL, and her son Greg Strong, Dighton, KS. Memorial donations may be made to Botanica Wichita (http://www.botanica.org/generosity).