Wrangell Sentinel -

Donna Lea Larsen, 70, died on February 15, 2017.

Donna was born on March 24, 1946 to Rosella and Ray Gibson joining her brother Dennis and just seven minutes ahead of her identical twin sister Dorris. Her baby brother Bill rounded out the family a couple of years later.

Donna grew up in the Pittsburgh, California area and graduated from Pittsburgh High in 1964. She married Leon Harvey shortly after high school, and had her first child Kathleen (aka Toot) in February 1968. In August of 1968 Donna and the baby followed Leon to Wrangell, Alaska.

She loved to tell the story of landing in Wrangell in a Grumman Goose on the water. She saw water pouring in through the rivet holes and thought she and her baby were about to drown. In 1974, the couple welcomed the first baby of the year, Earnest.

Donna loved the town of Wrangell so much that after

her divorce she stayed. Soon she met the love of her life, Roland Larsen and after being together for over twenty years they made it official on July 3, 1991. Together they were very active in the Elks and Emblem Club.

Donna was the kind of person that makes a small town like Wrangell special. She gave as good as she got with the morning coffee guys during her Dockside days. She loved to cook for the fall moose hunters. She was well known for her fudge – who knows how many 1000's of pounds of that stuff she made, most of which she gave away. 

February 23, 1998

Donna suffered a stroke. The stroke slowed her down, and she may have lost a filter or two along the way. Anyone who knew her knew she loved

nothing more than to reach out and touch any man's butt. It never seemed to matter if she knew him or not, if it

was appropriate or not, if

you were male and in the reach of her good hand, you

were going to get a grab or a pat.

She was preceded in death by her father Ray, her older brother Dennis and her husband Roland.

Donna is survived by: her mother Rosella; twin sister Dorris; younger brother Bill; and her children, Kathleen and Earnest; and their children, Devan, McKenna, Kaylene and Britany.

A memorial service will be announced at a later date.