Don Rahkonen

Don RAHKONEN Passed away in Woodinville, WA the first day of summer, June 21, 2017 at age 89, surrounded by his family. Born in Seattle in 1927, he grew up in Magnolia, graduating from Queen Anne High School. His youth was spent exploring the area, and he would talk of sneaking onto Fort Lawton with friends, narrowly avoiding the MPs. As fate would have it, he walked directly into the fort to enlist in the Army after his 18th birthday. He became a sergeant in Japan during occupation duty. This was the genesis of his interest in Japan, and it influenced the style of the spacious, 5-level, hillside Puget Sound-view home he designed and built in the Richmond Beach area of Shoreline, where he lived for 45 years. He returned from Japan, attended the UW, and was called again to serve during the Korean War …guarding the Hanford site from "rogue sagebrush," as he put it. After a "glowing" return from this duty, he resettled in the Seattle area, began his 37 year career with The Boeing Company, and embraced life with vigor. He adopted an early obsession with strapping two planks onto his feet and careening down mountain slopes in the winter, and in summer just a single ski behind a boat on Lake Washington. Don soon morphed into a ski racer and coach, just missing the Olympic tryouts due to breaking a leg (skis were meant to remain on the foot in the 1950s!). It was during a Forelaufer Ski Club dance in 1952 that he met Betty Dilly and immediately convinced her to go skiing with him the following morning at Mount Baker. Betty became the "love of his life" and they were married July 20, 1957. Upon the pending arrival of their first child ("surprise, it's twins!") he sold his treasured boat and Corvette in preparation for becoming a father in May 1959. This was a novel tag team effort; Don preparing formula, feeding, changing diapers, and actively partnering on other household tasks. Eventually, the family grew to five dynamic children. Skiing filled family winter weekends, with Don having success in local pro ski races, and coaching the next generation of ski racers. He continued teaching skiing well into his twilight years. Don enjoyed a myriad of activities with his wife Betty and children. Scoutmaster, Marriage Encounter regular for 40+ years, dancer extraordinaire with Betty, usher and greeter at St. Luke Parish, yearly camping trips to Pearrygin Lake and Fort Stevens State Park, hiking the forested hills, and sports. Don loved sports… particularly if his children or grandchildren were participating, often running to various vantage points to cheer them on. Be it soccer (refereeing or coaching), gymnastics, or tennis, he was enthusiastic in his encouragement and "competitive advice." The ski-gene was also passed on to his grand- and great-grandchildren. Don kept in shape playing handball for decades at the Washington Athletic Club. In his early 70's, he reluctantly transitioned from handball to racquetball after his sons convinced him it, too, was fun, and so began many a year of very …HIGHLY… competitive matches. Don played his last racquetball game (his much younger sons striving to prevail) and schussed his final runs at Stevens Pass at age 80. Don was generously giving of his time. Any project requiring an extra pair of hands, or technical consultation was fair game. Lest you think sports were his only focus, attending children's and grandchildren's school recitals and plays, the Seattle Rep and crafting epic love poems for Betty also balanced his outlay of nearly limitless energy. Passion, endearing humor, caring, service, loyalty, loving… these are Don's legacy. Don is survived by Betty, his wife of 60 years; the twins Dan Rahkonen (Susan) and Diane Owen (GeneO), Patrick (Lana), John (Chi), and Vicki VanBrocklin-Johnson (Jerry), his sister Patty DeGrazia, 11 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. He is predeceased by his parents, Arvi "Rocky" and Violet Rahkonen.Recitation of the Rosary will be Friday, June 30th at 10:15 AM, followed by the Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM, BOTH at St. Luke Church 322 N 175th St, Shoreline 98133 Reception to follow. Remembrances to Association for Catholic Childhood or your favorite charity.Hoffner Fisher & HarveyGuestbook at harveyfuneral.com