Dawn Lynette (Dungan) Ballard

Loving mother, grandmother, and wife, Dawn Lynette Ballard, passed on August 4, 2022 at 11:10 p.m. Dawn departed from this world for her home in heaven at age 51, after having heard the warm goodbyes of her children and family.

Dawn was born to Karen Poduska-Block and Gary Dungan on March 31, 1971, in Missouri Valley, Iowa. She grew up and attended schools in Logan, Iowa, and Idaho Falls, during which she also aided in teaching her younger brothers, Richard Poduska and Dustin Poduska, both in school and life skills. After years of effort, she proudly graduated from Skyline High School.

On November 30, 2001, Dawn married Keith Oren Ballard in Idaho Falls, ID, where the two dove into their new adventure together in raising five children: Mystie Young, Tyson Young, Aahron Young, Keith Ballard, and Camille Ballard.

Dawn was passionate in many facets of life and fueled by an immeasurable amount of compassion that drew others to her. She would devotedly engage in numerous creative activities such as beads, sewing, doodling, poetry, and polymer clay craft, and loved sharing her creations with others in the form of presents.

Dawn's gift of connection extended beyond people to animals and pets that she cared for tenderly throughout the years of her life, but by far what made her most happy, was the honor of having meaningful relationships with her three children and her two dearest grandchildren. Dawn was an extraordinary human being, that despite her struggles in life, wanted the best for everyone and would do everything in her power to aid those in need, regardless of affiliation. She was beautiful both inside and out, caring, sweet, and generous.

Dawn is survived by all of those who loved her, husband, Keith Ballard; father, Gary Dungan, and mother, Karen Poduska; daughter, Mystie Young; sons, Tyson and Aahron Young; brothers, Richard and Dustin Poduska; and finally, stepchildren, Keith and Camille Ballard.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Duane and Ida Block; and uncle, Kenneth Block.

A private family celebration of life will be held on August 21, 2022. In 2023, on March 31st, there will be a scattering of her ashes along the Oregon Coast.

In lieu of flowers, Dawn would have appreciated for donations to go to a local animal shelter.