Donald E. Monohon passed away January 12, 2024. He was born October 5, 1933, to Howard and Theresa (Kuttle) Monohon on the Willapa Valley farm near Raymond, Washington, and resided in the community his entire life.
Don attended Willapa Valley schools, married Dixie Lee Goodin, and was a lifetime dairyman. He began working on the family farm and dairy as soon as he could walk and continued until his retirement. His parents founded Monohon Dairy during the Great Depression. They, along with Don and his three brothers Howard, Dick and Bobby, ran the operation during its heyday. Many families remember his home deliveries of fresh dairy products to their front porch and a few remember deliveries directly into their refrigerator early in the morning hours while they slept.
Don was full of energy and always in good shape, not only because of the farm and delivery work, but because of his “hobbies.” When he wasn’t working the dairy and beef farms, he was an active gillnetter in the Willapa River (salmon and sturgeon), often spending all night on his boat. As if that wasn’t enough, he also periodically worked for Edwards Landscaping (Bill and Ginger Edwards) on special projects throughout the Valley, loading trucks for Dennis Co, a whole variety of volunteer projects for non-profits and building, landscaping and caring for his own property.
He loved gillnetting, landscaping, UW Huskies football, Gonzaga basketball, the Mariners, home brewing, clam digging, bark pealing and berry picking. He was community-minded and enjoyed volunteering. During his long life of service, he was an active member of the Raymond Lions Club, where he served as president and was in charge of the organization’s recycling efforts for many years. He was a lifetime member of the Lewis Pacific Swiss Society and an active member of the Willapa Valley Booster Club, where he served as president, and was a longtime member of St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Raymond and the Knights of Columbus.
He is survived by his special friend, Cleora Fisher; sons, Todd Monohon (Kim Mulligan) and Troy (Carol) Monohon; grandchildren, Alyssa Monohon (Fairbanks, Alaska), Nathan Monohon (Mesa, Arizona), and Marisa Monohon (Scottsdale, Arizona); and brother, Robert Monohon. He was predeceased by his wife, Dixie; and brothers, Howard and Richard Monohon.
A graveside service will take place Thursday, February 8, 2024, 3 p.m. at Fern Hill Cemetery in Menlo, Washington. A reception will follow at the Raymond Elks Club (4 p.m.), where the family hopes all of his friends will gather and celebrate. A rosary service will be held Wednesday, February 7, 2024, 6 p.m. at St. Lawrence Catholic Church, 1112 Blake St., Raymond, WA 98577.
Memorial donations may be made to the Raymond Lions Club, St. Lawrence Catholic Church, Willapa Valley Scholarship Fund, or the Lewis Pacific Swiss Society.
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