Spokane-Cheney Memorial Gardens

She was the mother of three children and grandmother of three girls. Donna was born May 11, 1938 in Spokane, WA to Ben and Mina (Ellingson) McKinnon and is the eldest sister to Betty.Donna graduated from Cheney High School in 1956. She met Richard Bellman on a blind date with her sister, and the couples married in a double wedding at North Hill Christian Church in May 1959. Dick was in the Air Force and stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base. They relocated several times throughout Dick’s career and finally returned to Spokane in 1970. At that time, their youngest son, Dave, was a toddler. Donna wanted Dave to have playmates while his siblings were at school, so she started an in-home daycare. She ran Donna’s Daycare out of their home for nearly 30 years.Donna enjoyed gardening and spent countless hours tending to a large rock garden in their back yard. She also enjoyed bowling and daily walks with her friend and neighbor. She was an active member of North Hill Christian Church, where she and Dick worshiped for 47 years.Donna was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her sister, Betty Clark. She is also survived by Dick, her husband of 59 years; daughter Diane Vanos (Russ), sons Dan and Dave Bellman; granddaughters Janae Holt (Quinn), Kendra DeJanovich (Dylan) and Jordyn George.A memorial service will be held March 22, 2019 at 9:30 AM at Heritage Funeral Home, 508 N. Government Way, Spokane.

With summer vacation on the horizon and the first of the beach loungers already rolling out their towels, the city and region have decidedly turned the seasonal corner. The three-day interlude often is a time for travel, but for those sticking around – or friends and loved ones visiting from away – here are some weekend highlights to set the summer off in style. Honoring those who serve Brett Mason and his mother, Shirley Mason, visit the grave of Michael Mason, Bretts brother and Shirleys son, Thursday, may 24, 2018, at Pines Cemetery in Spokane Valley, Wash. Were saying Hi. Hes in the Lords hands said Brett after placing a wreath on the grave. (Dan Pelle / The Spokesman-Review) All weekend long, through Monday, events across the city will honor those who served and continue to serve their country. Through the weekend, Riverside Memorial Park will see the appearance of 3,800 flags and a collection of military vehicles. Meanwhile, the Pines Cemetery Flag Museum in Spokane Valley is offering free admission today through Monday. And Heritage Funeral Homes will have a veterans display, with free refreshments, during the same period.Free music will be on-hand today and Sunday at Heritage Funeral Home: the Doghouse Boyz and The Square Parts from noon to 3 p.m. today, and the SideStep Band at 2 p.m. Sunday.Four separate Memorial Day ceremonies are scheduled for area cemeteries on Monday (see factbox).Hit the beachThe Inland Northwest may be landlocked, but it’s hardly waterless. While the lakes of North Idaho may be only slightly warmer at the moment than the snowmelt that’s feeding them, there’s plenty of heat to be found on docks and beaches, with the weekend’s weather forecast climbing from a partly-cloudy low-70s today to the high 70s and full sunshine on Monday.Sandpoint and Coeur d’Alene are popular options, but for a change of pace check out Q’emiln Park in Post Falls, or any of the network of beaches on public land that ring lakes Coeur d’Alene and Pend Oreille.Singing to the skies ...