Donna Jean Dain Snow

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Beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother Donna Jean Dain Snow, age 94, passed away peacefully on September 15, 2024, in Provo, Utah, just over two weeks after the passing of her husband of 64 years, Karl Nelson Snow, Jr. 

Donna was born January 19, 1930, to Olin Daniel Dain and Ethyl Valera Hansen in Los Angeles, California. Her family moved frequently after her birth and so she spent her childhood and teenage years in various places around the greater Los Angeles area. 

As a teenager, Donna developed a love for music and singing, a love that was encouraged by her father who she remembered as being able to play many instruments by ear. Music was something she enjoyed her entire life, participating in choirs in high school, college, church, including the Mormon Choir of Southern California, and the assisted living center where she spent her last few years.

In high school, she also found she had a talent for drawing, design, and sewing. Although she had some ability as a painter, it was sewing where she really excelled. She made her own dresses (including her prom dress), swimsuits, and later clothes for family members. She instilled this artistic love of creation in her children.

In the fall of 1948, she enrolled at Brigham Young University where she danced with the Cougarettes. After her time at BYU, she returned to Los Angeles and eventually became the legal secretary of President Howard W. Hunter, who at that time was the president of the California Pasadena Stake and later became President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Donna worked for President Hunter for nine and a half years and viewed him as a close friend and mentor. Importantly, it was President Hunter who arranged a date for Donna with Karl Snow, a close friend of his son. Seven months later, Donna and Karl were married on January 29, 1960, in the Salt Lake Temple. They were eventually blessed with six children: Karl Nelson Snow III, Melissa Snow, Daniel Dain Snow, Jeanmarie Snow, Elisabeth Snow, and Howard Hunter Snow. 

Donna was a faithful, active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, giving many years of dedicated service in a variety of capacities. Probably her most rewarding experiences were in serving with her husband Karl as senior missionaries. In the late 1990’s they moved to New York City, where they were assigned as the first international affairs missionaries working with the various ambassadorial missions to the United Nations. Just a few weeks after returning home, they were asked to serve as hosts for Brigham Young University’s ambassadorial visitors program. Later, they received an official mission call to serve as hosts for the Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Olympics. Building on contacts they had made with the ambassador from Mozambique, they then organized a large service project through their local stake to make 10,000 school uniforms for that country. Karl and Donna were given a brief assignment to travel to Mozambique to oversee delivery of the uniforms along with other aid containers from the Church. In 2004, they were called to serve as humanitarian affairs directors in southeast Africa, where they coordinated numerous projects in six nations. They returned to Africa in 2013 when they were tasked with overseeing a measles vaccination program in Botswana.

Donna’s family remembers her as someone who was kind, compassionate, and always looking to help those who were in need either physically or emotionally. She was supportive of her children’s varied activities and interests and encouraged them to expand their talents. She personified life-long learning and could often be found reading a book or doing a crossword puzzle. In fact, one of the trials of her later years was gradually losing her eyesight and not being able to read. Her warm, understated personality and subtle wit will be greatly missed.

Donna Jean Dain Snow is predeceased by her husband; her parents; two older siblings: Alan and Aleen Dain; her granddaughter, Heather; and her son-in-law, James Andersen. She is survived by her six children: Karl (Beverly Rust) Snow III, Melissa (Patrick) Houston, Daniel (Ruth Ann Clark) Snow, Jeanmarie Andersen, Elisabeth (Ron) Willis, and Howard Snow; 21 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and her younger siblings: Betty Pettit, Frances Canfield, and Olin Bradley Dain.

A funeral service, under the direction of Allen-Hall Mortuary, will be held at 10:30 am on Saturday, September 21, 2024, at the Oak Hills Stake Center, 925 E. North Temple, Provo, Utah. A viewing will be held prior to the service from 9:00 to 10:00 am. Interment will be at the Provo City Cemetery.

Condolences and memories may be expressed online at www.allenmortuaries.com.

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