Donna Mae Caruso

Donna Mae Caruso passed away at the age of 92 on July 27, 2023. She was born in Big Timber, Montana on October 18, 1930. Donna was four years old when her mother, Sabra Ronning, moved her and her sibling Caroline and Ray to Livingston. She had a wonderful childhood swimming in the lagoons off the Yellowstone River in the summer, and ice skating in the winter. She loved to play with her friends in the streets of her neighborhood (no cars to worry about). She spent the summer at the Dutton Ranch, her grandparents’ homestead on the Boulder River near Big Timber. Donna loved her little dog PeeWee and her pet baby alligator. As a youngster, she sold the Radio Guide door-to-door.

Donna loved high school. She always had a job after school, working for a local attorney, a CPA, and at Wilcoxson’s Confectionary & Ice Cream. Her busy schedule didn’t seem to interfere with being a cheerleader, a majorette, participating in student government, or writing for the Geyser student newspaper. She was hired after graduation in 1948 by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in Billings.

Donna rode the bus to Livingston on weekends where she and her friends would frequent the Melody, a hotspot for music and dancing. She learned to be a terrific jitterbug partner with Richard (Dick) Caruso. One thing led to another, and she married Dick in Livingston on March 4, 1950.

Donna moved to Bozeman where she and Dick began married life together. She worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Extension Service on the Montana State College campus while Dick went to school. Steven was born in 1953 and Dick began his career with the U.S. Forest Service. Bradford was born in 1956. Dick and Donna relocated countless times during Dick’s career with the Forest Service. Donna’s career was being a mother, homemaker, financial manager, and supervisor of moving the family 17 times and buying and selling 23 homes. Dick retired in 1982 and they returned to Livingston. Donna was an accomplished seamstress, loved to shop for clothes and shoes, and really enjoyed her adventures with the “Over the Hill Gang”. Donna was fun to be around and had a good sense of humor.

Donna is survived by sons, Steven and wife Rita, Bradford, and wife Kathleen; granddaughter Courtney and husband Henry Vachon; great-grandson, James and new great-grandson due in August; granddaughter, Annamarie, and great-grandson Haven; and numerous nieces and nephews. She is also survived by a special cousin, Donald Cowles, and his wife Patty.

After nearly 70 years of marriage. Donna lost her husband and dance partner in 2019. She was also preceded in death by her mother, Sabra; sister Caroline; and brother, Ray.