Post by Deleted on May 20, 2020 15:35:18 GMT -5
Obituary: Don Behrend passed away at
home Saturday May 10, 2020 at the age of 84.
He made his start in Muriel Erickson’s first year
in the work. He finished his race strong in faith.
Don was born July 26, 1935 in Sturgis South
Dakota to Rena and Elmer Behrend. Don
attended Kelso schools graduating from KHS
in 1953. In the summer of that same year he
married the love of his life ArLeeta Fowler who
he fell in love with in kindergarten. They
made their home in Kelso all 63 years of their
marriage.
Don would often tell his family about holding
a 40 hour a week job while going to high
school, courting ArLeeta and making furniture
in the wood shop at school. He was known
as a top-notch builder starting Behrend
Construction in the late 60s. In the early 80s
he changed the business focus and became
Behrend Realty. He built and sold many
houses in Cowlitz County. He taught his
family to work hard but to play hard too. He
loved to hunt, fish, boat, snow ski, play racket
ball, dig clams. He was the loudest fan in the
crowd watching his family play sports!
Highlights of his life included taking his
grandchildren to Hawaii and fishing in Alaska
and his wife being the only woman on charter
trips catching the biggest or most fish!
Don was preceded in death by his wife
ArLeeta, 3 sisters and 1 brother. He is survived
by; two daughters Leah Whitley and Rita
LiaBraaten; granddaughter Shawna (Matty)
Rae. Grandsons Jered (Jessica) Rusher, Brent
(Erika) LiaBraaten and Bryce (Mallory)
LiaBraaten; 9 great grandchildren, sister Lela
(Lee) Jacobson, Lynn (Larry) Raymer; and
many loving in laws, nieces, nephews and
close friends.
home Saturday May 10, 2020 at the age of 84.
He made his start in Muriel Erickson’s first year
in the work. He finished his race strong in faith.
Don was born July 26, 1935 in Sturgis South
Dakota to Rena and Elmer Behrend. Don
attended Kelso schools graduating from KHS
in 1953. In the summer of that same year he
married the love of his life ArLeeta Fowler who
he fell in love with in kindergarten. They
made their home in Kelso all 63 years of their
marriage.
Don would often tell his family about holding
a 40 hour a week job while going to high
school, courting ArLeeta and making furniture
in the wood shop at school. He was known
as a top-notch builder starting Behrend
Construction in the late 60s. In the early 80s
he changed the business focus and became
Behrend Realty. He built and sold many
houses in Cowlitz County. He taught his
family to work hard but to play hard too. He
loved to hunt, fish, boat, snow ski, play racket
ball, dig clams. He was the loudest fan in the
crowd watching his family play sports!
Highlights of his life included taking his
grandchildren to Hawaii and fishing in Alaska
and his wife being the only woman on charter
trips catching the biggest or most fish!
Don was preceded in death by his wife
ArLeeta, 3 sisters and 1 brother. He is survived
by; two daughters Leah Whitley and Rita
LiaBraaten; granddaughter Shawna (Matty)
Rae. Grandsons Jered (Jessica) Rusher, Brent
(Erika) LiaBraaten and Bryce (Mallory)
LiaBraaten; 9 great grandchildren, sister Lela
(Lee) Jacobson, Lynn (Larry) Raymer; and
many loving in laws, nieces, nephews and
close friends.