Donald Newquist

Donald “Don” Miles Newquist, 90, passed from this life the evening of Monday, November 16, 2015, in Yakima, Washington. He was born on Saturday, February 7, 1925 in Puyallup, Washington, the third child of John and Ethel (Brewer) Newquist. He lived most of his life on the family farm on the Satus, 10 miles south of Toppenish off Highway 22, except during the time he was attending college and serving in the Navy. During his early years of schooling he rode horseback with his brother to the Shearer School, a one-room schoolhouse about two miles from their home. When the school closed they transferred to the Toppenish schools. After graduation in 1943 from Toppenish High School he attended Washington State College (University). During that time World War II broke out so he enlisted in the Navy. His basic training was at Farrigat, Idaho. While in basic he took a test for electronics and did so well it was off to tech schools at Chicago, Illinois, Logan, Utah, San Clemente Island, California, and Corpus Christi, Texas. Then he shipped out to Whidbey Island. While he was on his way the war had ended and he met the sailors coming home, so he was honorably discharged at the Bremerton Naval Base and sent home. After about a year he continued his education at Washington State College. During this time he met and fell in love with Virginia Louise Clower. They were married on October 7, 1949 in Pullman, Washington. In the spring of 1950 he graduated with a four year degree in Ag Engineering. At that time is when the family, including a daughter, Linda, moved back to the farm. He continued working the farm in partnership with his dad and brother, Wallace, raising a variety of items including cattle, horses, sheep, corn, hay, mint, peas, sugar beets, and pinto beans. When the Korean War broke out, because of his knowledge of the electronic equipment being used the Navy drafted him back into service, this time serving at the Adak Station, Alaska. He willingly left to serve his country, leaving his family that included a new son, Robert. After he was honorably discharged he went back to working on the farm and the family grew again with the birth of another son, Jon. After the death of their dad in 1972 the brothers, Wallace and Don, continued farming till they saw farming would not support their families. On his 65th birthday, February 1990, he began a new chapter in his life as an environmental Engineer tech. for the Office of Engineering Health & Environment with the Indian Health Service at the Toppenish, WA office. During this time he enjoyed serving many other tribes of the Pacific Northwest besides the Yakamas. He stayed with this job until his wife Virginia became ill and he retired at the age of 78, in 2003. They soon moved from the farm to Wanity Park in Toppenish so he could take care of Virginia full time. After Virginia’s death on July 28, 2010 he continued living there and enjoyed many friends at the Wanity Community Center until just before his death. During his life he was very active and involved in serving others and that game him great delight. Just some of the activities were the following: The Masonic Lodge, holding the 33rd Degree, Massada Shrine, Massada Shrine Patrol, Scottish Rite, Easter Star, and Amaranth, being a lifetime member and having held leadership positions in all of these. He served many years on the Granger School Board while his children attended school in that district. He also enjoyed serving 31 years (1971-2002) on the board of directors of Benton Rural Electric Association. He also was a member of the Yakama Nation, the Yakama Warriors Association, the American Legion, and the Toppenish Methodist Church. The important piece of wisdom he always reminded his family of was that no matter what belief a man had the most important things were to treat your fellow man better than you would want him to treat you, to respect others’ beliefs, to be honest in your dealings, and to be patient and kind. He was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, and two brothers, James and Wallace. Survived by his children, Linda (Pat) Threewit of Kooskia, ID, Robert (Elizabeth) of Toppenish, and Jon (Betty) of Toppenish. He is also survived by numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A special thank you for the kind and gentle care he received from many health care providers and care givers. Memorial services will be held on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2015 at 10 AM at the Toppenish Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Inurnment will be in the spring in the family plot at the Mountainview Memorial Park in Lakewood, Washington. Tributes can be left for the family at www.valleyhillsfh.com. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your local Shrine association or Yakima Specialties. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Donald Newquist, please visit our flower store.