Donald Ketter

Donald Joseph Ketter, 80, of Lake Stevens, Washington, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021.

Donald was born Oct. 7, 1940, in Falls City, Nebraska, to Victor and Ruth Ketter. Growing up, Don moved a lot, due to his father’s service in World War II and later in his profession as a traveling GM salesman.

The family eventually settled in Creston in 1953, where Don attended high school and met his future bride Carolyn Baker. They married May 28, 1960, packed everything into a yellow 1953 Chevy and headed to the east coast to start their married life.

Don started his career in government service in Washington D.C., first in the typing pool for the Department of the Interior and was later promoted to HR administrator for the White House staff. His family enjoyed the story of hiring Jackie Kennedy’s French pastry chef.

In 1965, he transferred to the National Park Service’s NW Regional Program, bringing the family to Seattle. He held several positions over the remainder of his 33 years of service, retiring from the Park Service in 1994. He had a “retirement job” building homes with his friend, Byron Stoeser, and another with Research International.

He was a man of many interests. He played violin, trumpet, and sang with a rich bass voice. As a young man, he rode motorcycles. He enjoyed flying his 4-seater plane any chance he got, and cherished many plane trips with family, international travel and later motorhome trips exploring the countryside with Carolyn by his side. Often they were joined by granddaughter Rachel. One special trip to Iowa, Armenian exchange student Maggie even joined in the fun.

Don is survived by his wife of 61 years, Carolyn Ketter; daughters, Julie Ketter (husband, Christopher Challis) and Brenda Hartmeyer (partner, Gary Bartelheimer); granddaughter, Rachel (Hartmeyer) Llamas (husband, Kenneth); honorary granddaughter, Magda Markosyan; three brothers, David, Bill, and Ken. At Don’s request, no services will be held.

Arrangements were entrusted to Schaefer-Shipman Funeral Home in Marysville, Washington.