Obituary of Walter Duane Tech

Walter Tech passed away peacefully at his home in Rochester, Washington on September 14, 2007. Walter was born to Walter G. Tech and Sadie May Harvey October 11, 1924 in Gregory, South Dakota. He had 8 siblings, Jean (DeHollander), Dorothy (McMillin), Mona (Slater-Schreier), Donald, Darlene (Sherlock), Ervan, Boyd and Robert. The family farmed and ranched in the Bennett County, South Dakota area during his childhood. He married Gladys Hays on November 15, 1946 in Kadoka, South Dakota. Walter worked in the construction trades during the early years of their marriage. They were blessed with seven children, Doyle, Margaret, Donna (Huss), Jerry, Pat (Wallace), Barbara (McAlexander) and Richard, 15 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren. Walter proudly served in the Army from 1943 to 1946, a WWII veteran stationed in Eastern Europe. He worked for civil service at Fort Lewis until his retirement in 1979. He enjoyed fishing, camping and boating with his family as well as tinkering around the garage. In his later years, he loved seeing his grandchildren and working in his yard. A celebration of Walter's life will be held at Grace Lutheran Church, 6202 South Tyler in Tacoma on Thursday, Sept. 20, 2007 at 3p.m. with graveside interment at Calgary Cemetery immediately following. Viewing will be until Thursday at noon by Piper Morley Funeral Home, 5436 South Puget Sound Ave. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Rochester Fire Department, Emergency Services, 20411 Old Highway 99 SW, Rochester, WA 98597, or Hospice Care of Chehalis, 500 SE Washington, Chehalis, WA 98532.