Donald David Williams
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| September 9, 1919 ~
December 19, 2011 |
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December 23, 2011 |
 Donald
David Williams, 92, passed away on Monday,
December 19, 2011 in Bonners Ferry. Graveside
services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday
December 27, at Grandview Cemetery with Military
Honors.
Born September 9, 1919 in Pasco, Washington, Don
was raised by David and Laura Williams in
Spokane, Washington. He graduated from Rogers
High School after being chosen All City Football
halfback and lettering in football, baseball,
basketball and swimming. During his youth he
built bicycles from salvaged parts then ventured
to ride them on day trips to the top of Mt.
Spokane and as far as Coulee Dam.
Don served in World War II after enlisting in
the Army in March of 1942. He was based in the
Pacific, where he taught young troops to swim
while wearing full combat gear. He was honorably
discharged in November 1945.
Don was fond of reminding everyone that the
“luckiest day” of his “entire life” was July 12,
1946, when, during their marriage ceremony, he
was asked if he would take Joan Hieber as his
wife and his resounding answer was, “You bet!”
While raising three daughters with Joan, Don
labored as a journeyman carpenter. He relished
large projects such as additions to Sacred Heart
Hospital and the five year construction of
Boundary Dam in Metaline Falls, Washington. In
1982, after 37 years in the carpentry trade, he
retired and liked to display his fingers showing
that he had managed to keep them all.
Don and Joan moved from Spokane to Bonners Ferry
in 2008.
Don’s passion was gardening. After being
nominated by an admiring passer-by, his
vegetable garden on Assembly Street was featured
in a Spokane Spokesman Review article. He shared
his bounty with neighbors and friends at Salem
Lutheran Church. His love of the outdoors took
him and his family camping, fishing, huckleberry
picking, swimming and skating. He looked forward
to hot springs soaks and so enjoyed his yearly
vacation to Hawaii or Mexico that he often
packed months early.
Don lead by example. A hard worker, he was
reliable, adept and supportive of co-workers. He
was inclusive and generous. His daily gratitude
for everything and to everyone endeared him to
many.
Don is survived by Joan, his wife of 65 years;
two daughters, Shara White and Barbara Lindgren
of Bonners Ferry; grandchildren: Randy Rinehart,
Sherri Alderman, Jen Rinehart; Aaron, Adrian and
Reuben McCrum; Taran and Tyga White; three great
grandchildren and his best friend and
brother-in-arms David Siebenthaler.
He was preceded in death by his parents, four
sisters and his daughter, Marilyn Rinehart.
Memorials in his name may be sent to the
Community Restorium at 6619 Kaniksu Street,
Bonners Ferry, Idaho, 83805.
Please sign Don’s
online guest book.
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