Donnell Brown Detweiler passed away peacefully, at home and with family, in the early hours of March 4, 2026, in Eagle Mountain, Utah. Donnell was born and raised in Idaho Falls, Idaho, the fourth of eight children born to parents Donna Evans Cole and Vern Melvin Brown. Throughout her life, Donnell loved, served, and greatly appreciated her large and growing family.

As a fun-loving and playful child, Donnell proudly held the record of more sprains, broken bones, and head-to-foot scars than anyone else in the family. When she happily moved on to junior high and high school, she had many friends and excelled as a clarinetist, performing in school bands, orchestras, and choirs.

At the new Skyline High School, Donnell served as editor of the school newspaper and helped write their new school song. She graduated from Skyline High School in 1967. She later earned a bachelor’s degree in Recreation Education from Brigham Young University in 1973, where she sang with the BYU Oratorio Choir and marched with the BYU Cougar Band. For her Senior project, she worked for a semester at the Atherton YMCA in Honolulu, Hawaii, which she later labeled as “a tough assignment, but somebody had to do it!”

As a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Donnell went on to serve an LDS mission in upstate New York, where she participated in the Hill Cumorah pageant and formed many lifelong friendships. Regarding her mission, Donnell later recorded this statement in her life history: The decision to serve a mission was one of the best things I ever did… I learned to love and serve people like no other time in my life, and I will always treasure the memory of my time in “Cumorah.” Throughout her life, Donnell continued to serve faithfully in LDS Primary, Young Women, and Relief Society, as well as other organizational church callings.

After completing her mission, Donnell’s education, training, and professional experience took her to many interesting locations, including work with the U.S. Army in Korea, Fort Eustis in Virginia, and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. Her professional work, combined with her church service, provided numerous interesting opportunities to meet and serve a variety of people from many cultures and backgrounds.

The highlight of those experiences was Donnell’s introduction to someone she later described in her life story as “the handsome Air Force officer she met while helping with a church Bicentennial Pageant.” Donnell had been tasked with the job of putting makeup on that handsome unknown officer who was playing the role of John Adams. His real name was Robert “Bob” Detweiler, and that first makeup meeting led to their first dinner date and then eventually to their 1978 marriage in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple.

After their marriage, Donnell and Bob lived for a short while in Falls Church, Virginia before settling permanently in Orem, Utah with their two children, Milan and Emily. As a wife, mother, talented musician, and community servant Donnell stayed busy over the years with work in real estate, floral design, and as a seamstress for LDS Conference Center productions.

Donnell and her family also created many happy memories through their love of travel. They enjoyed family vacations to many places and especially loved Disneyland, Henry’s Lake, and historic sites across the country. They always found great joy in sharing their talents, experiences, and travels with their grandchildren.

Donnell was preceded in death by her husband and both of her parents. She is survived by her children, Milan and Emily, and her 14 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. Donnell will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her, but her lifelong example of faith, service, and enduring love will continue to bless and influence generations to come.

Funeral Services will be held Monday, March 9 at 10:00 a.m. with a short viewing from 9:00 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. at The LDS Meetinghouse at 140 N 400 W Orem, Utah.

Burial will be at 1:00 pm at Utah Veterans Cemetery & Memorial Park at Camp Williams.