Donald Sateren

1921 - 2017

Donald Philip Sateren
June 15, 1921 - June 18, 2017
Donald Philip Sateren passed away peacefully on June 18, 2017. He had just turned 96.
Don was born on June 15, 1921 to Lawrence and Gertrude Sateren in Escanaba, Michigan, the fifth of seven children. His Father was a Lutheran pastor so the family moved several times while Don was growing up including Argyle, Wisconsin, and Brandon, Minnesota.
After graduating from high school, Don moved to Seattle and went to work for Boeing as a machinist. He later lived and worked in Spokane WA. At 21, he entered the College of Idaho where he learned to fly, his lifelong passion.
At the age of 22, Don entered active duty with the U.S. Navy flying FM-2s (Wildcats) from the USS Corregidor and the USS Makin Island escort carriers on combat air patrols in the Pacific Theater over Guam, Saipan, Eniwetok, Rota, Tinian, New Guinea, among others. It was during this time that Don earned the Navy's Air Medal for meritorious achievement. After the war, Don continued in the Navy as a flight instructor at the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi.
After discharge from the Navy, Don returned to Minnesota, met and married Sylvia, left for a short time to learn watch-making in Denver, returned to Minnesota and began working in the jewelry business. By 1953 however, the family (three of them with one on the way), moved to Turlock where Don began working at Peterson's Jewelry. Shortly thereafter, Don and Sylvia, along with Wayne and Betty Bailey (former neighbors in Minnesota), opened Syl-O-Ett Jewelry on Main Street, later moving the store to Center Street. Don and Sylvia kept the family-run business going for more than 30 years before retiring in 1990. In 1996, Don and Sylvia moved from Turlock, spending winters at their home in Indio and summers in Washington State with daughter, Debbie and family.
Don was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Sylvia (Brandt) Sateren in 2005, and all his siblings. He is survived by his son, David Sateren (Karl Snider) of Long Beach, CA and daughter, Debbie (Paul) Cederwall of Auburn WA, six grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and many nephews and nieces.
A memorial service and interment will be held at the Tahoma National Cemetery in Maple Valley, WA on July 5th.
www.cvobituaries.com