The walking legend Don Tveit took his last walk on October 27, 2024.
Donald Owen Tveit was born on March 14, 1951, to Donna (Courrier) and Orv Tveit in Wells, Minnesota. He moved to Washington state with his parents when he was 6 months old and was raised in Centralia with his brother, Steve, and sister, Patty. Don was a standout athlete in high school in both football and basketball and continued to play the latter at Centralia College. Don was a graduate of University of Washington in forestry management.
He met his wife, Billie Weigant, in the summer of 1973 and they were married in June1976 in Mossyrock, Washington. They spent their earlier marriage moving back-and-forth between Washington and Oregon state before settling in Forest Grove, Oregon, and raising their twins, Beth and Mark. He retired from Stimson Lumber Company in 2013.
After the death of both his parents, Don and his wife returned to Centralia in 2013 to be closer to family. They enjoyed traveling to see their children and grandchildren as well as bigger trips to Norway, Africa, Alaska and river cruises and lots of road trips around the United States.
Don enjoyed cheering on the Huskies and Mariners, doing crossword puzzles, watching British police procedurals and taking his daily walks.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, Orvin and Madonna Tveit, and brother, Steven Tveit. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Billie, of Centralia, Washington; sister, Patricia (Jack) Dennis, of Marysville, Washington; daughter, Elizabeth (Rob) Flajole of Bothell, Washington; son, Mark (Kasey) Tveit, of Noblesville, Indiana; grandchildren, Jane and Joey Tveit and Dominic and Vincent Flajole; sisters-in-law, Gina (Fareon Ferguson) Tveit, of Colville, Washington, and Susan Tupper of Centralia; brothers-in-law Jim (Myrna) Schultz, of Olympia, and Mike Weigant, of Centralia; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, at the Adna Grange Hall, 123 Dieckman Road, Chehalis, Washington.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that remembrances be made to Friends of Seminary Hill Nature Area, c/o Thomas Ralls, 413 N. Iron St., Centralia, WA, 98531.
