Nancy Donald

Nancy Lamb Donald was born in Carson City, Nevada on July 10, 1939, to Milo and Eunice Lamb. With their only child, they moved to Boise in the early 1940’s and this is where Nancy developed her love for the valley. She graduated from Boise High School, then attended Boise Junior College and eventually transferred to the University of Idaho.

At the U of I, she joined Kappa Alpha Theta, and she met the love of her life Jim Donald. They married in 1960 and the family soon grew as they welcomed their first son, Scott. A handful of years later, they became a family of four and welcomed Joel.

They lived everywhere from Idaho Falls to Orofino, where she was a school teacher, to Nampa and finally coming back to Boise in 1968. Her Kappa Alpha Theta turned into a lifetime devotion to philanthropy. She was an activemember of the Junior League, a lobbyist and one of the original board members for the Boise Greenbelt. She was instrumental in evolving the Bishop Kelley auctions and teaching cooking skills at different schools for Intermountain Gas.

This love for the community motivated her to become the Executive Secretary for The House Leaders. During this time, she was able to develop her lobbyist skills and use them to help the dietitians and Arts for Idaho. In her philanthropic adventures, she was also the Executive Director for the Idaho Commission on the Arts for 5 years.

She had a wonderful life. She loved spending time with her family. The summers at the cabin in McCall, winters in Sun Valley, where she got to enjoy her love of skiing. All of this with Jim by her side. They traveled the world together,from Europe and China to Mexico. As her health faded, they got an RV and traveled wherever they could, for as long as she was able. 

Nancy is survived by her loving husband, Jim, and their two sons, Scott, and Joel. She is preceded in death by her parents.

Nancy may have left this earth on September 11, 2023;however, her legacy will remain for so many and for the years to come. In memory of Nancy and her legacy please donate to your favorite charity or volunteer your time, she would love for you to give back to your community.