Donald Dando

Donald J. Dando died September 24, 2025 in Moscow, ID. Don was born March 16, 1926 to Carter J. Dando and Mary Ruth Dando(Nisonger) in Seattle, WA.

The family moved to Burien, WA in 1931. Don attended Sunnydale grade school and Highline High School. Don married Rose Ann Burns in 1945, having three children , then divorced 7 years later. He later married Amy Marie Reischnieder in 1955. She had three children, then had Tammie, born in 1962. During those years we took in foster children and adopted three.

Don left high school Junior year to enlist in the army Air Corps for pilot training in the cadet program. Don left the Air Corps in 1946, after serving his county for two years and the end of war. Don flew and owned many planes during his life. His favorite was a Cherokee Six, a six person piper. He started building cabinets in the 50’s and had his own cabinet business for 60 years, many years in Burien, WA. He built several houses to sell as well as his own. He moved to Orcas Island in 1969. We bought a Resort at Obstruction Pass on Orcas Island. He continued to build cabinets and have cabinets on many of the San Juan Islands. He flew in Resort visitos and supplies for the Resort.

Don and his family left Orcas Island in 1982, due to his wife’s bad health. They bought a 40 acre ranch near Birdsview, WA and raised cattle, llama’s, pigs, chickens, etc. Amy had a stroke in 1993 Don then built a house to take care of her in, but when she needed extensive care she was moved into the nursing home in 1996, where she died in 2002. Don continued to build cabinets until 2013 when he retired. Don has cabinets in Burien, Federal Way, all the San Juan Islands, and the Skagit Valley. While on the Orcas, Don did a lot of boating both in WA and Canadian waters. Don flew to the mountains every summer to a ranch for horse back riding.

“It has been an interesting life, I have done many things including traveling, cruised to Alaska, Tahiti, Mexico, Caribbeans and many other places. I loved my flying years, and was disappointment when I had to give it up because of hearing loss."