Michael Lalonde

Michael O. LaLonde (66) of Selah, Washington passed away in his home unexpectedly December 5, 2016. Michael was born December 29, 1949, in Gainesville, Florida, the loving son of Richard and Evelyn LaLonde. Upon graduation from high school he entered the United States Marine Corps and served in Vietnam. Upon honorable discharge from the Marine Corps, Michael entered Federal Government service, employed by the Federal Bureau of Prisons and transferred to Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), now known as Immigration, Customs Enforcement (ICE) and retired from ICE in 2007. Forty plus years of dedication to his country and his community illustrated his professional life. Michael met the love of his life Cathy in Atlanta, GA where the two worked together. Coincidentally that place of employment was a prison, and so began the family joke on how Mom and Dad met in prison. They were married in March of 1983. Michael and Cathy with their daughter Kellie moved to Yakima, Washington, where Michael's last government transfer took them in 1983. A few years later in 1987, their son Jon was born. After his retirement, his life centered around his grandchildren. Michael was not only a hero to those that he served publically but he was a hero to his family. The quote “A Grandfather is someone with silver in his hair and GOLD in his heart,” suited him quite well. Michael is survived by his father in-law, Mack Hughes of Greeneville, TN; daughter Kellie (Bill) Neve of Washougal, Washington, and his son Jon (Whitney) of Yakima, Washington; and our family friend Ann Davidson of Yakima, WA. He was blessed with four grandchildren, Taylore, Keegan, Payten and Liam. Michael was preceded in death by his wife Cathy, his parents, one brother and one sister. A memorial service for Michael O. LaLonde will be held at 10:00 a.m., on January 21, 2017, at St. Michaels' Episcopal Church (5 S. Naches Avenue, Yakima, Washington). Please visit www.valleyhillsfh.com to leave a memory or condolence. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to Disabled American Veterans (DAV), by going on line to www.dav.org or by mail at P. O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250 To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Michael Lalonde, please visit our flower store.