Norman William Livingston

Bill was the third child and first son born to Bertha M. Buestad (1885-1973). Bertha had two daughters, Bill’s half sisters, Dorothy (1912) and Marjorie (1909), from an earlier marriage to Charles Grimes, whose life ended in 1917. Bertha remarried to Harry Livingston (1884-1965) and Bill was born in (1922). Bill and his older sisters spent their childhood in Davenport and Harrington, WA.

Bill graduated from Davenport High School in 1940. While in High School he excelled playing the violin. He also earned the Boys Scouts highest award, the Eagle Badge. He attended the University of Akron in Ohio for a short time studying engineering but decided that wasn’t for him. In Sept 1942 he enlisted in the Army while attending Washington State College (WSC, now WSU). At WSC he was a TKE and eventually graduated in 1948 with a degree in political science. Bill served in France and Germany during World War II in the 68th Armor Division (Oct 1944-Feb 1946). Upon returning home to Davenport, he helped manage the family’s hardware store with his father.

At 40, Bill met his wife Myrtle (a military widow of George E. Van Hersett of Spokane) while golfing at Downriver Golf Course in Spokane. They married in 1963. Living in Davenport, Bill served as the Treasurer of Lincoln County from 1958-1984. Besides golf, Bill loved gardening in his yard, a colorful spectrum of flowers that bloomed from spring until fall. He took pride in his prized raspberries. They enjoyed summers at Loon Lake where Bill loved to fish and the family has many fun memories. Bill was a founder of the Harrington Golf & Country Club and active in the Lions Club. They were married for 40 years until Myrtle passed away in 2003.

In the following years, he reunited with grade school classmate Verla Bly. They spent days together, attended senior meals in Harrington with friends and travelled together to visit friends and family.

To celebrate Bill’s 90th birthday, family took him to Churchill’s Steakhouse in Spokane. He enjoyed the fancy meal but always said his favorite was a McDonald’s hamburger, cup of coffee, and apple pie. Turns out Bill was not enamored by fancy things and received the most reward out of simple everyday pleasures. For his 95th birthday he got hamburgers!

Amazingly, Bill lived independently in his home until a few months ago. A few things he enjoyed: daily coffee visits with friends, reading the newspaper, watching 3 TV’s at once, Harrington senior meals, yardwork, mowing and snow blowing, Nutter Butter’s and being “Raspberry Grandpa”.

Bill is survived by his nephew Don Berreman of Cave Creek, AZ (wife Mary Lou), step children David Van Hersett Sr. of Spokane (wife Judy), Richard Van Hersett of Littleton, CO (wife Phyllis) and Diana Parr of Spokane. Grandchildren John Van Hersett of Kenmore, WA, Kristen Armstrong of Spokane, David Van Hersett Jr. of Spokane, George Van Hersett of Spokane, Lynn Hemans of Costa Mesa, CA, Richard Van Hersett Jr. of Highlands Ranch, CO and 10 great grandchildren.

Graveside funeral service with military honors will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, April 9th 2018 at Hill Crest Cemetery in Harrington where he will be laid to rest with other members of his family. A celebration of his life will follow at St. Francis of Assisi Church.

Memorials can be made to the Harrington Opera House, PO Box 618, Harrington, WA 99134, where Bill himself donated generously.