Donna Barnes

Donna Barnes passed away Nov. 25, 2015, after a battle with mesothelioma. Donna was born on Nov. 14, 1933, to Don and Dorothy (Greenizer) Slauson in Belt. 

Donna attended school in Libby. She started her first job at age 17 at the Surprise Café. After high school, Donna married Gene Neubauer and raised five children. Gene worked at J. Neils Lumber Company for over 30 years. Donna had a diverse working career. She owned and operated a laundromat at the end of Mineral Avenue. Later, she owned and operated a yarn shop also on Mineral Avenue. She worked at Merritt’s Grocery and then Pay-N-Pak. She owned and operated Bair’s Truck Stop Café and the Ten Pin Café. Later she worked at 4B’s and Venture Inn. For several years, she helped her daughter Brenda Vinson at the MK Steak House. 

Donna loved to crochet and make gifts for her many loved ones. She loved to play cards – especially pinochle with all her friends at the Libby Senior Center. She enjoyed baking pies and her homemade crust was unmatched. Donna loved all her family and friends and brought so much joy and laughter to many lives. Donna will be missed by all that knew and loved her. 

Survivors include her brother Dale (Marie) Slauson of Libby; her children Clifford (Shayla) Neubauer of Libby, Beth (Tom) DeHaven of Centralia, Wash., Brenda (Mick) Vinson of Libby, Ken (Sandy) Neubauer of Libby and Kevin Neubauer of Libby; her grandchildren Missy DeHaven of Seattle, Wash., Leslie DeHaven of New Orleans, La., Elizabeth DeHaven of Portland, Ore., Brittany Vinson of Libby, Aaron Neubauer of Stanley, N.D., Katie Neubauer of Deer Lodge, Levi Neubauer of Libby, Logan Neubauer of Libby; her great-grandchild Aubrey Jayne of Deer Lodge; her cousin Bonnie (Ed) Dorman of Grand Rapids, Mich., and many other cherished family members. 

A party to celebrate her life is being held on Sunday Dec. 6, 2015, at 4 p.m, at the Hidden Chapel.