Donald Merrill Luchterhand, 93
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 3 years, 5 months AGO
Donald Merrill Luchterhand, 93, of Hayden, Idaho, and Mesa, Ariz., passed away March 13, 2023, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. He was born May 5, 1929, in McMillan, Wis., the son of Elder and Josephine (Faucher) Luchterhand.
Donald grew up on a farm near Neillsville, Wis., and graduated high school in Wisconsin and college at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash., following his military service.
Donald married Hazel Arvidson in 1965 and had a son, Daniel, in 1967. Hazel passed away in 2000. He later married Sophie Wallentine in 2003.
Donald was a veteran who served starting at age 18 between 1948 and 1954 in the U.S. Air Force as a B-29 flight engineer. He was part of the German occupation forces following WWII. He also served during the Korean War and was stationed in Okinawa, Japan.
He worked for Burlington Northern Railroad as an engineer for 32 years between 1958 and 1990.
He lived in Spokane and Chattaroy, Wash., Mesa Ariz., Priest Lake and Hayden, Idaho.
Donald enjoyed dancing, hunting, fishing, RV camping and golf.
He was a member of the NRA and Assembly of God Churches.
Donald is survived by his wife, Sophie Wallentine, son Daniel Luchterhand, daughter-in-law Angela Luchterhand, grandson Kingston Favero in the Coeur d'Alene/Spokane Area and Stepson Michaels Dunn in Palm Springs, Calif.
Charitable donations in memory of Donald may be sent to the Wounded Warrior Project.
Memorial Services were held at 2 p.m., Monday, March 20, 2023, at Yates Funeral Home, Hayden Chapel. Inurnment will be at Woodland Cemetery in Deer Park, Wash.
Yates Funeral Home has been entrusted with the care of final arrangements. Please visit Donald’s online memorial at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com and sign his guestbook.