Donald Duane Hartze, age 77, passed away in Sedro-Woolley, WA on Thursday, February 9th, 2012. He was the oldest son of Katherine (Reidinger) Hartze and Mathias Hartze, born on June 15, 1934, in Glendive, MT. He spent his youth in the Absarokee, MT area where his Dad worked in the Benbow, Moet and Jardine mines, which produced iron ore, chromium, gold and silver. When Don was 10 they moved to Glendive, MT where he attended Sacred Heart Catholic School and graduated from Dawson County High School in 1952. He served in the National Guard for 7 years.
After high school Donald married his high school sweetheart, Wilma (Tietz) Hartze. They have been married for 58 years, celebrating many milestones along the way, including a daughter, Denise and son, Kevin. Don tried his hand as a backhoe operator for Davis & Engle Excavating and then, as a policeman, for the City of Glendive, before settling into a lifelong career driving 18 wheeled tanker trucks, first for Houck Transport, then for Conoco Transportation. He loved truck driving and was proud of being honored by Conoco, with an award, for driving “3 million miles accident free”. They moved with Conoco to Sidney, MT during the 1980’s oil boom, then to Plentywood, MT and on to Dickinson, ND before retiring in 1994.
After retirement, they moved to Helena, MT where they could be closer to his brothers and their families, and all help care for Mom, Katherine. In 2003, Don and Wilma moved to Sedro-Woolley, WA to be closer to daughter, Denise, where they took on the caretaker job at Riverfront City Park and Campground, living on the park grounds. He loved meeting people, feeding the wildlife and watching the Skagit River roll by from his porch. They retired from that position in 2009, due to health concerns.
Don lived for fishing and hunting, and always found time to play the penny and nickel machines at the casino. He had years of truck driving stories, and loved re-telling his hunting and fishing tales.
He is survived by his wife, Wilma, daughter and son-in-law, Denise (Hartze) and Don Childs of Sedro-Woolley; son and daughter-in-law, Kevin and Deb (Robinson) Hartze of Kennewick, WA; 6 grandchildren, Travis and Nikole Stortz of Billings, MT, Justin and Jessie Crockett of Maricopa, AZ and Brad Crockett of Oak Harbor, WA/Glendive, MT; Aaron Hartze of Salem, OR, Caitlin Hartze of Athens, OH, and Jillian Hartze of Kennewick, WA; and 6 great grandchildren; brothers Elton (Yvonne), Marvin (Darlene) and families of MT.
A Celebration of Don’s Life for friends and family will be held Wednesday, February 15th from 2:00 to 5:00pm at the home of Don and Denise Childs, Sedro-Woolley.
Arrangements are under the care of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley, WA.
We have been out of touch with you, and have missed your Christmas cards. We are saddened about Don. I read the Sidney Herald on the Internet and that is how we found out. We had hoped to see you guys again. It sounds like you had a good life in Washington. We enjoyed the time we spent with you in Dickinson. Butch certainly enjoyed the fishing with Don.
If you are ever in Billings, please stop and see us. We moved here last year. Butch is still working in Sidney, a week on and a week off. We decided to retire here so decided to get the move done.
Sorry this so late, but our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family, Wilma. Take care.
Love,
Butch & Ginny
Terry has fond memories of hauling gas with Don during his time in Glendive.
With sympathy,
Terry and Rynette
Dear Wilma and Family, I will speak for Dick and myself in the fact that we got to be there for Don’s 75th Birthday Bash and our 40th anniversary. Today was a sad day for me as I thought of you all together for the time at Denise and Don Cs house where we let Mike and Julie be our stand-ins. They have relayed a wonderful family time and a very strong Aunt Wilma along with visiting with all.
My memories are when Wilma came home engaged to Don when I was about 13 and all I said was how come you didn’t get two rings and big sister told me she was going to marry Don and get that other ring. Shirley and I got to be in the wedding in our yellow and lavendar dresses which was such an awe inspiring feat that it took me over 10 years to ever make that big step.
Dick and Don had some great times fishing and hunting but it was always 950 miles away for us so never often enough. Donny as we called him told great stories but Dick was always doing one better. Uncle Donny will be missed and Wilma we love you. Thank you Denise and Kevin for doing it all right for the family.
To my sister Wilma & Family,
Please accept our appologies for not being there with you all, but our hearts are there. I also wish I hadn’t been sick when we were supposed to meet in Billings for a reunion.
I know I said this before, but I called Carmen Weidner and told her about “Uncle Don” as my three girls loved to call him”, she said she was sure the three D’s, Don, Danny & Dewey were in heaven and all were having a good time getting re-aquainted. My thoughts were that they were also looking down on all three wives with all their love.
Joan & I and our three daughters will always miss Uncle Don very much. He was the their favorite Uncle.
Wilma, we love you very much.
LeRoy & Joan Tietz
I first met Don when he and Wilma became our Riverfront Park Caretakers. They where simply the best caretakers we’ve had, we at the city where so glad to have them, you never had to worry if things at Riverfront were ok, because Don and Wilma where always there. They set the standard for how that job is supposed to be done. I am very happy that I have been able to keep in contact with Don and Wilma after they retired from Riverfront. I will miss visiting with Don after I cut the grass at their house on Talcott Street in the summers. He was a very good man and will always be in my thoughts.
Dear Wilma and Denise.
I was very saddened to hear of Dons passing. My thoughts and prayers are with both of you and your families during this difficult time. Wilma, it was always a pleasure to see you and Don at the clinic in Sedro. May the joyful memories comfort you now and always.
Megan CMA (Physicians Care)
Don was my other “big” brother. At the ripe age of 8 at the time of the wedding to my sister, I was in awe. You two took me to the drive-in movie to see “Gone With the Wind”. I don’t remember much of the movie but it was fun watching you necking! Being a cop in Glendive made me proud of Don. There are mountains of memories of camping, fishing, “rain bottles” in the camper when it was too wet to hang out in front of the fire. One fire was so hot that Kevin’s soles on his sneakers melted. The last big trip we all took together to Houser Lake, Don’s and Babe’s stories will forever be in our hearts. Home made huckleberry ice cream and wonderful company. Mike says he learned alot about fishing and boating from Don. Our kids have good memories of Uncle Don and Aunt Wilma. Denise, Kevin, Wilma-I can’t be there in person. Just know Don will be forever my big brother!
We will miss Don so much! We are so lucky to have so many wonderful memories with him. God blessed us with “The Best Neighbors in the World” in 1997 and we are so thankful.
When the kids were little Don bought the kids their first fishing pole, passing on his favorite hobby. When they moved to Washington we were so happy that they would be closer to their kids but we were so sad to see them go. We had the pleasure of visiting them each summer and we were always treated like royalty! Don always thought of fun things to do with the kids and we will cherish our fun adventures. We had picnics out at Deception Pass and we had our evening rides on the gator at the park while closing the gates, and of course going to have “the best sundaes” at the fruit stand. We shared wonderful meals made by Wilma followed up with yummy pies that Don picked up. (we gained a ton of weight on our visits!) 🙂 Most of all we will miss our visits, little did he know we didn’t need to be entertained we just loved visiting with him and hearing his fun stories. Love The Crisp Family
Our thoughts go to you for peace in your hearts and the faith to understand the memories left of life and the necessity of death that is required of us all. May God bless you and your family as you remember and honor your father.
Bob & Jo