Walter Theodore Reese

Walter (Walt) Theodore Reese went home with the Lord on Monday, May 14, 2018, in Everett Washington. He was a member of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Snohomish, Washington. He was secure in his faith in the completed work of Jesus Christ, his savior.

Walt was born January 22, 1927, in Kennewick, Washington. He graduated from Kennewick High School in May, 1944. He was preceded in death by his parents, Theodore Reese (1989) and Frieda Reese nee Freese (1992), and sisters Mildred Gullixson (2017) and Margaret (1932). He is survived by his sisters Esther Reese of Seattle, and Marian Klundt of Lakewood, Washington.

He married Arline (Arlie) Winifred Botz of Bremerton on June 23, 1951. Walt and Arlie raised three children: Thomas (Tom), Kerry, and Jennine (Jenni). He was preceded in death by Arlie (2000) and Jenni (2004). He is survived by their seven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

Walt raised wheat on the family farm south of Kennewick. He served two terms as district representative in Washington State’s legislature: 1963-4, and 1967-8. Walt moved his family to Yakima, Washington, in 1970 when he became executive secretary of Washington State Farm Bureau.

In 1974, Walt and Arlie moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, when Walt entered the colloquy program at Concordia College to become a lay minister in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS). He served as a lay minister at Saint John Lutheran Church in Cudahy, Wisconsin.

In 1979, Walt and Arlie moved to St Louis, Missouri, while Walt studied at Concordia Seminary to become an ordained pastor of the LCMS. Beginning in 1982, Walt served as pastor of the dual parish of Trinity Lutheran Church in Lake Crystal, Minnesota, which was a dual parish with Salem Lutheran Church in Madelia. In 1987, they moved to Prosser, Washington, when Walt became pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church.

Walt and Arlie retired to Snohomish, Washington, in 1992. Walt served as vacancy pastor for LCMS churches in Renton, Marysville, Wasilla Alaska, East Wenatchee, and Benton City. He also worked on church renovation projects with Laborers for Christ.

After Arlie’s death in 2000, Walt married Lenora (Lee) Alice Norris nee Best in East Wenatchee on June 3, 2003. They lived on Lake Pend Oreille in Bayview, Idaho, until they moved to Coeur d’Alene in 2012. Following Lee’s death in 2015, Walt moved back to Washington, where he lived at Brookdale in Mill Creek up to the time of his death.

Walt loved the Lord, and was always active in serving through many roles in LCMS churches wherever he lived. He was an excellent Bible teacher. He was an inspiration and role model for all his family and friends.