Donn Wayne Fish Sr., 68

Donn Fish, 68, passed away on Nov. 24, 2018, after a brave fight against multiple illnesses, with his wife Dorene and other family by his side.

Donn was born in Watertown, South Dakota, on Dec. 10, 1949, to Harvey and Lydia Fish. He was the youngest of seven children. The family moved to the Skagit Valley in Washington in 1952, and to Clear Lake in 1956, where he was raised. Donn attended school in Clear Lake and Sedro Woolley. Donn started a love of riding motorcycles very young, with dirt bikes and then road bikes.

He had dogs and other pets from a young age as well, rescuing many animals along the way.

Donn married Linda (Watkins) and had a son, Donn Wayne Fish Jr., in 1968. He worked for a short time at Kenworth Motors in Seattle before working for 34 years in sawmills in Washington and Montana.

In 1977 Donn met Edith Dorene (Cargile), the love of his life (his words), and they were married in 1978, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. 

They lived and worked in the Sedro Woolley and Mount Vernon area until 1995, when they moved to Eureka, Montana.  

Donn had a big heart and was always ready to help anyone in need. 

He could talk with anyone, anywhere, and never met a stranger. Donn became a reborn Christian in July of 2011, and spent the rest of his life spreading seeds for Jesus. Donn also rode with the Tribe of Judah Motorcycle Ministry as a Millennium Messenger for many years.

Donn was preceded in death by his parents, Harvey and Lydia Fish, nieces Shawn Fish and Debbie Smith, and nephew Bob Richardson, as well as several brothers-in-law. 

He is survived by his wife, Dorene; sisters, Alma Lennox, Betty Sauers, Georgia Sanders (Gary), Mary Moore (Dave), and Peggy Cochran; brother, Harvey Fish (Jackie); sister-in-law, Judy Gustafson (Brett); brother-in-law, Ken Cargile (Inavee); children, Donn W. Fish Jr. (Linda), Terry G. Peterson Jr. (Cathy), Michele L. Peterson Beck, and Tana R. Peterson; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.   

A celebration of Donn’s life and potluck will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, at the Pinkham Schoolhouse near Eureka.

In lieu of flowers, suggested memorials are: St Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Friends of the Shelter, or Big Hearts Open Hands in Eureka.