Donald Otto Schwisow

Donald Otto Schwisow was born October 13, 1923, to Frank and Anna Schwisow in the Carico Hills near Ritzville.

He graduated from Ritzville High School in 1941 and married Betty Schaefer on October 14, 1945.

He died Nov. 21 in Moses Lake surrounded by his family.

Donnie lived and worked together with Betty on their Carico Hills farm for 70 years, until moving to assisted living in Moses Lake in September 2015.

Donnie was an avid outdoorsman. He especially enjoyed goose hunting with his family and neighbors. He was an accomplished welder, metalworker, carpenter, and craftsman.

During WWII, Donnie worked for Boeing in Seattle, learning skills that he honed for decades on the farm. He built his own house and was known for being able to fix, mend, or build anything that he, his family, or anyone else needed.

He was preceded in death by his parents Frank and Anna, son Alan, siblings Freddie and Iris, beloved mother-in-law Florence Schaefer, bother-in-law Jack, and sister-in-law Marian.

He is survived by his wife of 70 years Betty; children Paul and Florence Schwisow, Dawn and Chris Jones, Jean and Rocky DeBuhr; grandchildren Matt Schwisow and Jen Heckler, Stephanie Jones-Lee and Kevin Lee, Brian and Leah Jones; great grandson Eli Jones; sisters Phyllis and Lois; brother-in-law Bill Schaefer, sister-in-law Pat Schaefer; and many nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Ritzville at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 28. Interment will be private at Emanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Ritzville.

In lieu of flowers the family is asking donations be made to Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery or Ronald MacDonald House. Danekas Funeral Home-Ritzville is entrusted with arrangements.