Velma Violet (Howe) McDonald, 93, passed on Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021, at her home in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. She was born in 1928, to Melvin Morton Howe and Florence Myrtle Howe, near Springston, Idaho, just outside of Harrison where her family farmed. Velma was third from the youngest of 13 siblings.

In 1942, after their home was destroyed by fire, the family moved to St. Maries. During the five years following, Velma lived in Coeur d’Alene, Farragut, Roseburg, and Spokane. She worked various jobs in a laundry, a bakery and as a riveter.

Velma married her childhood sweetheart, Omar Russell McDonald, on June 4, 1949, in Libby, Mont., at a triple ceremony with Velma’s sisters, Lola and Louise, also exchanging marriage vows with their respective finances. Shortly after their marriage, Omar started his own logging business and Velma learned to “skid logs,” or load them with a “jammer” and then drive the logging truck down the narrow, winding mountain roads. Her daughter, Terry, was born in 1950 and son, Carl, in 1951.

In 1958, Velma began her long career with the U.S. Forest Service Nursery until her retirement in 1994. During those years, she learned to drive every kind of equipment used in that work, including an 87 Hydrostatic Tractor, a forklift, and a “cherry picker,” which lifted workers to the tops of white pine trees to pick seed cones.

As well as her work, Velma loved photography. The many videos and photos she took over three decades of the tree nursery's evolution were her joy, which she would readily share along with narrations. She was always taking pictures!

Velma’s very unusual hobbies included mowing the fields around her home with her tractor, driving her four-wheeler, along with the much more ordinary hobbies of photography and gardening!

She came to know Jesus Christ in 1972 while attending Grace Bible Church. Later she attended Coeur d’Alene Bible Church and was a faithful member of Christian Fellowship Church in Post Falls. Her favorite scripture was Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

Velma and Omar’s motorhome trip to Alaska in 1998 was their last grand adventure together, but what a trip it was! So many memories were made; however, Omar went home to be with the Lord just two years later in November of 2000.

Velma was preceded in death by all her sisters and brothers, as well as her husband, Omar. Survivors include daughter, Terry McDonald-Barber and son-in-law, Jeff Barber of Coeur d’Alene; and son, Carl McDonald of Coeur d’Alene. Velma had five grandchildren: Misty Driskell-Pena and husband, German Pena of Spokane, Tracie Driskell of Spokane, Deanna McDonald of Post Falls, Eugene McDonald and wife, Angie, of Colfax, Wash.; Kelly Smith of Portland, Ore.; and 12 great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.

A memorial service for Velma will be held at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021, at Yates Funeral Home – Coeur d’Alene Chapel, 744 N. Fourth St., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814. Please visit Velma’s online memorial and sign her guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.