Donald D. Loetterle

Donald D. Loetterle, 90, passed away at his Ellensburg, Washington home on Thursday, August 31, 2023.  A private family memorial service will be held.

Don was born on November 2, 1932 in Fairbury, Nebraska to Harry & Virginia (McConnell) Loetterle.  He grew up in Fairbury where he was active in football and basketball for Fairbury High School before his graduation in 1951.  His athletic endeavors followed him to Fairbury Junior College where also volunteered time helping to coach high school basketball.

Don attended the University of Nebraska where he earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Geology.  He worked most of his career as a geological engineer, first with the Department of Transportation and later the Forest Service, and was very proud of the work he did with the North Cascades Highway project. 

Don married Mary LeRossignol in 1954 and they were blessed with three daughters - Jan, Margaret and Teresa. Don later met Patricia Williams Fleming where she was working for Sears in Vancouver, Washington. They were married on December 29, 1978 and would have celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary later this year.

Don loved Huskers Football, fishing, hunting, spending time in his garden, carpentry projects and restoring antique cars. He was intelligent and loved to share his knowledge with others. He was inventive and could do most anything he set his mind to do. He loved his family and will be missed by all who knew him.

Don is survived by his wife Patricia of Ellensburg; daughters Jan (David) Christopher of Federal Way and Margaret (Christopher) Blankenship of Bremerton; step-sons Brian (Pamela) Fleming of Ellensburg and Bret Fleming of Laguna Beach as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two sisters, one brother, his daughter Teresa and his step-daughter Barbara Fleming.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Johnston & Williams of Ellensburg.  Online condolences may be left for the family at www.johnston-williams.com