Victor B. Brasseur

Victor B. Brasseur, 89, of Yakima died on July 28, 2025. He lived his allotment of years and took the hand of Jesus on his way out. Victor was born on February 11, 1936, in North Dakota to Joe and Amelia Brasseur. He was 7 of 9 children (he had 4 brothers and 4 sisters).

He grew up in many towns of North Dakota and Montana. We have heard stories of inconceivable winters and miles walked.

At 18, Victor started working for the railroad (Northern Pacific and Great Northern) where he worked off and on through college and into his 2nd year in medical school. He loved that job and loved seeing the country by rail.

Victor completed medical school at Northwestern University and then did an internship at Los Angeles County General, where he met his lovely wife who was a nurse there. Next he joined the Navy and served with the US Navy Medical Corp. He served at Pearl Harbor and later, Bremerton Naval Hospital. In the midst of this he married Margaret (1964) and later had 3 children.

Over many years Victor practiced medicine in TX, WA, OR and NM. Locally he served Yakima, Sunnyside and Prosser. Once his family moved to Yakima this became his base, and he would travel out of state and to other places as needed, often doing locum tenens work.

Victor was extremely hard working – he liked to say "You can sleep when you're dead." He was willing to go where the need was, as long as it wasn't too far from his family. He believed in the value of good medicine and provided great care to those he served. Victor was unpretentious – "It doesn't matter what you wear as long as you pay the bill." He was humble and open to people in all walks of life, and interested in their stories. He had a special appreciation for Native Americans, likely from growing up in North Dakota and Montana. He made sure his children knew the history and what Native people had suffered, and also their strength. He loved history in general, and was passionate about learning for it's own sake. Victor had many and various interests – he read prolifically, took sailing lessons, and enjoyed road trips. He loved exploring the vastness of North America by road or train, but wasn't fond of flying.

After he "retired" he taught himself, through books, how to bake different kinds of bread, and later, how to build his own mosaics. The bread is long gone but the mosaics remain. Victor had a great sense of humor and a quick wit. You couldn't remain long in his company without laughing at his antics and stories. He also had an unrelenting sweet tooth – he was very fond of candy and ice cream. One time on a road trip with family he pulled off the highway at a magnificent candy shop. He told the kids "get whatever you want, as much as you want!" He enjoyed it as much as his children! He also loved taking his kids out for Halloween, and they would be the last ones home, bags filled with candy! Even in his later years he would get up in the middle of the night while his wife was asleep, to get another bowl of ice cream. She would find the evidence in the morning.

Victor is survived by his wife, Margaret; his children, Yvette, Guy (Desiree) and Jay (Shauna); and his grandchildren, Camille and Graham. He is also survived by his brothers, Garner (elder brother) and Philip (younger brother).

Viewing will be held on Tuesday, August 12, 2025 at 4-7pm and the service will be Wednesday, August 13, 2025 at 11am, both at Shaw & Sons Funeral Home. Burial will follow the service at Tahoma Cemetery.

Shaw & Sons Funeral Home is caring for the family. Memories and condolences may be shared at: www.shawandsons.com.