Donna Marie Bottger, RN

Donna Marie Bottger, née Abrams, was born on Groundhog Day on February 2, 1951, to Donald and Romell Abrams in Chicago, Illinois. She did not see her shadow. Her loving sister and soulmate Diane was born 7 years earlier. Both were seemingly attached at the hip and did mostly all things together as their lives progressed. Diane sadly passed away on September 7, 2006, to the anguish of Donna. Donna attended McDonalds Grade School in Oak Lawn, Illinois and then attended Mother McCauley High School in Chicago, Illinois.

Donna, deciding to follow in her mother’s footsteps, enrolled at Christ Community School of Nursing in Oak Lawn, Illinois.

In Donna’s first year of the school she fell in love with a handsome man named James D. (J.D.) Bottger, who had been visiting from the great state of Idaho. Both Donna and J.D. fell in love and were married in Illinois on August 12, 1972. J.D. then took Donna by her long beautiful blond hair, and with a club over his shoulder, dragged her to the state of Idaho.

In Idaho, Donna took a job with the Security Trailer Factory while J.D. continued his education at Boise State University. After J.D. graduated, Donna then returned to her nursing education at Boise State University School of Nursing and was pinned as a Registered Nurse in 1977.

Donna was then employed at St. Alphonsus Hospital and worked on a surgical floor for 5 years. Donna then took employment at St. Luke’s Hospital, working there for a number of years before being recruited by Dr. Marietta Thompson to work as her office nurse at the Women’s Clinic. Donna also, at the same time, worked as an office nurse for Dr. Tim West. When Dr. Thompson left the clinic, Donna then took a position as office nurse for Dr. Nicole Javernick-Hodges. Donna dearly loved her job and dearly loved all three of the wonderful Doctors she worked with.

After her retirement, Donna and J.D. continued to live and love in Boise and traveled together throughout the U.S. visiting family, friends, and their cabin in High Valley, “The Dirt.”

Donna’s health declined and Donna passed away peacefully at their home in Boise on May 11, 2026, at 3:45 pm, while J.D. was at her side with attending nephew Tim, sister Judith, and sister-in-law Aprill.

All who knew Donna, was a patient, or worked with her are invited to a celebration of life with reception at 4:00 pm, Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at Bowman Funeral Parlor, 10254 W. Carlton Bay Dr. in Garden City.

Arrangement are under the direction of Bowman Funeral Parlor of Garden City.