Donald Gilbert Moen

Don was born in Yakima on October 19, 1931. He graduated from Yakima High School in 1950, and then from Washington State College in 1954 with a degree in Business (Construction Management). In 1982, he completed a small business management program at Harvard Business School (OPM). After college, he served in the army for two years and was stationed in Stuttgart, Germany as a member of the Counter Intelligence Corps. Though he met his future wife, Kathryn, in Yakima, the two were married in Germany and spent their first years of marriage there in a small poorly heated flat.

After discharge from the service, he joined his father at GH Moen Construction Company. When his father retired, he took over ownership of the company, and propelled it to new levels of success. He was the general contractor for many important buildings in Yakima and around the state of Washington, including the Museum of Flight in Seattle, the State Supreme Court building in Olympia, the Washington State University hospital, and over twenty five buildings on the Central Washington University campus including the award winning psychology building. Yakima buildings of note include the SunDome, Children’s Village, eleven buildings on the Yakima Valley Community College campus, and important renovations of the William O. Douglas Federal Building, Capitol Theatre, Davis High School and Yakima Valley Museum. He had a unique ability to build loyalty with both his employees and his clients, and repeat business was common.

Don was also actively engaged in the community, serving many years in Rotary, including a stint as district governor. He served as an advisory board member and/or officer of the Red Cross, United Way, YMCA, Boy Scouts of America, St. Elizabeth Hospital Foundation, Cowiche Canyon Conservancy, and Yakima School Foundation. Other business associations included the Association of General Contractors, Yakima Construction Federation, Yakima Chamber of Commerce, Carpenters Apprenticeship, and the Yakima Skill Center. He also served on the construction management advisory board for both WSU and CWU.

His time in Germany sparked a lifelong love of travel, starting with weekend sojourns around Europe with his wife, a car, and a pup-tent. Back in Washington, this involved frequent camping trips with his family before upgrading to an Airstream. As the kids grew older, there were yearly backpacking trips along the Pacific Crest Trail with family and friends. His love of travel inspired him to take many international trips, most with the whole family, and some with grandchildren. Ultimately, he embarked on nearly a hundred trips, visiting dozens of countries over five continents.

He was an avid and talented photographer, and entered photographs in the Central Washington State fair nearly every year, earning many awards. A life long learner, he loved to read, and enjoyed playing bridge with friends and other games with family. He took pride in teaching and playing cribbage with each of his children and grandchildren. He was a lifelong member of Central Lutheran Church, active in church leadership, and enjoyed singing in the choir up until last year.

Don is survived by his wife, Kathryn Moen, four children, Michael (Jody), Stephan (Josephine), Sandi Culver (Chuck), and Daniel (Robina), and eight grandchildren, Connor, Colton, Kailey, Katelynn, Kristen Culver, Denali Culver, Erica, and Alex Law.

Celebration of Don's Life will be held at Central Lutheran Church (16th and Yakima Ave.) on Saturday, April 8 at 2:30pm.

Memorials, in lieu of flowers, may be made to the Central Lutheran Church gym fund, On the Corner, or the Cottage in the Meadow.