Madonna "Donna" Marie Nicholson

Madonna (Donna) Marie Nicholson, 85, of Great Falls, MT, died of natural causes on April 29, 2018. The funeral liturgy will be held Saturday, May 19, 2018, at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, with inurnment to follow at the Holy Spirit Columbarium. Father Doug Krings will be presiding. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Schnider Funeral Home. Donna was born in Lewiston, ID on April 16, 1933, to Eugene and Irene Bershaw. She graduated from Lewiston Senior High in Idaho and moved to Anchorage, Alaska where she met Fred Higgason. They married on December 28, 1955. Fred passed away on September 30, 1962. Donna married Stuart Nicholson on October 12, 1963, they later divorced. Donna’s life work, her joy, and her passion were her 6 boys. Raising those 6 boys was her fulltime job and then some. She loved cooking for her family and was revered for her Chinese dishes. The holidays and spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren brought Donna the greatest joy. Donna spent a good part of her life entertaining and laughing with her family and many friends. She was an avid golfer and loved playing at the Meadow Lark Country Club. She enjoyed playing Bridge, tole painting, cross stitch, and knitting. Friends and family cherish the gifts of her handiwork. She was actively involved in the community as a Chamber of Commerce Red Coat, a Symphony Guild Board Member, YWCA Board Member, hospital volunteer and Charles Russell Art Auction volunteer. She was active in the Catholic Church as the St Joseph’s CCD coordinator and as a parishioner of St. Luke’s and Holy Spirit. Donna is survived by her 6 children, Robert Higgason of Greybull, WY, Michael (Kellie) Higgason of Tigard of OR, William Higgason of Kalispell, Thomas (Barbara) Nicholson of Great Falls, Kenneth (Ann) Nicholson of Bothell, WA and Douglas (Paige) Nicholson of Great Falls; grandchildren Jeffrey (Sarah) Higgason, Kevin (Katrina) Higgason, Casey Higgason, Emily Higgason, Lisa Higgason, Zachary Nicholson, Alexander Nicholson, McKenzie Nicholson, Katie Nicholson, Tavis Nicholson, Tyler Nicholson, Spencer Nicholson, Julia Nicholson and Stella Nicholson; great-grandchildren Calvin and Evelyn Higgason and Charles Higgason; brothers and sisters Bobby Hays, Michael (Ann) Bershaw, Anita Bershaw, and Jan Bershaw; and many nieces and nephews. Donna was preceded in death by her parents, Eugene and Irene Bershaw; brothers Ivan, Joseph, and James; and sisters Jeanne, Gayle, Geraldine, and Joyce. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are suggested to the Benefis Healthcare Foundation http://www.benefisfoundation.org/giving or the Great Falls Symphony Guild https://www.gfsymphony.org/donate .