Richard "Dick" Reinertsen

Richard "Dick" REINERTSEN Richard Reinertsen died on Jan. 5th, 2007 surrounded by his family, following a long illness with Alzheimers and Parkinsons. Dick was born April 7th, 1922 to Ivar Richard & Pearl (Wessels) Reinertsen. He was born in Yakima, WA to be close to his mother who lived there at the time (his joke). He attended grade schools in Everett and Olympia, and graduated in 1939 from Olympia High School. He went to Dietz Business College in downtown Olympia and studied Court Reporting. He completed the course in 8 months, not realizing it was supposed to take 2 years. He was employed by the State of Washington in the Training Office of Puget Sound Navy Yard in Bremerton. He was in the Navy for two years (1944-1946) as a reporter for General Courts-Martial during which time he took FDR's testimony on a ship in Bremerton. He was called up by the Navy from the reserves in 1950 for two years active duty at the Pentagon as a personal yeoman to a four-star admiral. There he met Admiral Byrd. He was a Court Reporter for the Departments of Navy, Army, the US Civil Service Commission, freelance companies, and Superior Courts in Kitsap, King, Mason, and Thurston Counties from 1941-1989. he had a total of 52 years of court reporting. He taught court reporting in Seattle and in Olympia over the years. In early 1963 while teaching night classes, he met Shirley Dennison. After 6 weeks of dating, they were married. Over the years he enjoyed singing in the church choir, playing scrabble and visiting. He always had a story to tell and was glad to meet new people to tell his stories to. He could always make you smile. He loved animals. He was a member of Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd. He is survived by his wife, Shirley; daughter, DeeAnn Smith, son-in-law, Allen Smith and Grandson, Evan Smith, all of Olympia; a daughter, Patti Reinertsen and a Grandson, Travis Anderson, both of Bellevue. A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, January 10th at 2:00 p.m. at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 1601 North St, Olympia. The family would like to thank the staff and residents at Mother Joseph Care Center for the care, compassion and friendship for the last 25 months. And a special thanks to Hospice who helped him become pain free for the last day and a half. Donations in his name may be made to Animal Rescue and Adoption, PO Box 1184, Yelm ,WA 98597. Arrangements by Mills & Mills, Tumwater.