Donald Evan Bodeau

Donald Evan Bodeau was born in Spokane on February 21, 1941 to Alfred and Beulah Bodeau. He joined his big brother Dean on the family farm near Govan. Don passed away on December 31, 2023 after a recent brain tumor diagnosis.

Don graduated from Wilbur High School in 1959. During high school, he met the love of his life at CYO when he was a senior and she was a freshman.

After high school, Don attended Gonzaga University and graduated in 1963 with a degree in English. Children Brenda, Mark and Rhonda followed in his footsteps and are Gonzaga graduates too.

Don was drafted by the United States Army in 1963. He served as the Chaplain’s Assistant in Germany and was honorably discharged in 1965.

Upon returning from the Army, Don began farming with his Dad and brother in 1965 and retired in 2009. However, you never really retire from farming as he was still checking the wheat market from his hospital bed and selling his wheat, too. In 2006, Bodeau Brothers were honored as Washington State Small Business of the Year—a great achievement for the many years of successful farming and community service for Don and Dean.

Don and Faye were married at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Wilbur on February 12, 1966. Together, they built a successful farm and a beautiful family with many years of memories. What started out with driving Dad’s ’57 Ford on date nights turned into a wonderful 57 years of marriage!

Don and Faye started their family when Brenda was born later in 1966. Mark was added just 11 months later in 1967. Rhonda was born in 1971 and Debbie rounded out the tribe in 1975. Grandpa Don was so proud of his grandchildren—Abigail, Zachary, Jeffrey and Cody. And in March of 2023, a great granddaughter, Evelyn, joined the family.

Our family loved to travel. Don and Faye let us kids see the world with them! Highlights were multiple trips to NCAA tournaments, the Final Four in Phoenix, WCC Championships in Las Vegas to follow the Zags. We also loved Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Other memorable vacations include Washington DC, Hawaii, Grand Canyon, West Edmonton Mall, Expo in Spokane and Vancouver, Mount Rushmore, Memphis, Kansas City, Nashville, Key West, Waco, Iowa (to move Mark and Debbie rode with Dad in the motorhome) and many others. They traveled internationally to Germany, the Vatican, and Italy. Don even attended the Super Bowl in New York City with Debbie to watch the Seahawks defeat the Broncos! Mom and dad went on several cruises including the Big Red Boat, Caribbean, Mexico, Mediterranean, Alaska, Panama Canal, and a long one around mom’s native land of Australia and New Zealand. Don and Faye are proud they visited all 50 states. They were traveling up until a week before Dad’s diagnosis to see Abigail, Zachary and Elvis.

Don instilled a love of sports and Gonzaga basketball in all of his children. He is a proud season ticket holder to both the men’s and women’s Gonzaga basketball. He rarely missed a game and loved his Zags! Dad even attended 2 games this preseason and he was so happy to be at the Kennel for his last time!

Don was a great supporter of his family. He was always our biggest teacher, cheerleader and supporter. He even became the Boy Scout Scoutmaster when the grandsons needed one.

Don was a devout Catholic and active in his church throughout his life. All 3 daughters, a son, and 2 grandsons made their Girl Scout Gold Award and Boy Scout Eagle projects for the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Wilbur.

As an avid sports fan, Don encouraged youth and coached little dribblers and little league baseball for many years. He was also a longtime member of the Wilbur Grange and Washington Wheat Growers Association. Through the Wheat Growers, Don and Faye shared their farm life through the Farm/City Swap program and are still friends with the teacher and his family they met from Edmonds. They also hosted 3 Utrek Japanese foreign exchange students during the summer months.

Donald is proceeded in death by his parents, Alfred & Beulah, his in-laws George & Joyce, his only son Mark, and sister-in-law Carol. He is survived by his loving wife of 57 years Faye, daughters Brenda, Debbie, Rhonda and husband Todd. Grandchildren Abigail, Zachary, Cody, and Jeffrey and wife Madison and their daughter Evelyn. Don is also survived by his brother Dean, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Jerry and Julanne, and numerous nieces and nephews.

We are so grateful for the wonderful years of love and support from our brother, husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather! Some of Dad’s best qualities are his smile, his personality, his ability to talk with anyone and everyone, and his kind demeanor.

A Rosary service will be held on Thursday January 11, 2024 at 7:00 PM at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church Wilbur, WA followed by a Funeral Mass on Friday, January 12, 2024 at 2:00 PM at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Interment will be held at the Wilbur Cemetery, Wilbur, WA.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Don’s name to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Wilbur, Wilbur Fire Department and Ambulance, and the Hesseltine Library in Wilbur. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.strate-funeral.com for the Bodeau family. STRATE FUNERAL HOME, DAVENPORT, WA is caring for the family.