Richard “Dick” Nortness, 82

Dayton, Wash., resident Richard “Dick” Nortness, 82, died Dec. 28, 2007, at St. Mary Medical Center, at 401 West Poplar St. in Walla Walla.

There will be no memorial service at his request. Memorial contributions may be made to Friends of Chronic Kidney Disease, through Mountain View-Colonial DeWitt Cremations & Funeral Services at 1551 Dalles Military Road in Walla Walla.

Nortness was born on Feb. 24, 1925, in Kalama, Wash., to Carl Johan and Ruth Rebecca Jenkins Nortness. He attended schools in Kalama. He was a World War II veteran, having entered the Navy in 1942. On July 26, 1945, he and Betty Reimers were married in Pasco, Wash. They came to the Walla Walla area in 1993 from Vashon Island.

Nortness worked in the lumber industry and marine construction industry, building docks and bridges. He also did work with the United States Air Force and Manson Construction and Engineering in Seattle, retiring in the late 1980s.

He loved traveling, hunting, fishing and sports. He enjoyed his two years of coaching Little League on Vashon. He liked to spend time in the Tucannon River Valley. He was a VFW member and belonged to the Masonic Lodge on Vashon.

Survivors include his wife, daughter Nancy L. Nortness of Renton, brother Hans A. Nortness of Lynnwood, and several nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by sister Carla Holmberg and brother Charles Nortness.