Leslie B. “Pete” Whitson
Leslie B. “Pete” Whitson was born on February 2, 1927, in Carnation, WA, the youngest child of Leslie LeRoy and Esther May Whitson. He passed away peacefully at his home in Lynnwood, WA. on August 26, 2009.He grew up on his parents’ farm and attended school in Carnation. He left Tolt High School in February of his senior year to enlist in the U. S. Navy Reserves and served on the USS Okala in the Asiatic Pacific Area during World War II. After the war, he attended Central Washington State College where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Education and his Teaching Certificate and later his Master’s Degree in School Administration. He taught in Carnation for three years before moving to the Snoqualmie Valley School District where he served as Principal of North Bend Elementary School, Snoqualmie Middle School, and Mount Si High School and as Assistant Superintendent for the next 27 years. He coached all sports throughout his years in education. After his retirement in 1981, he served as a video scout for the Seattle Seahawks (his lifetime dream job), a financial planner, and a real estate agent over the next twenty years. His passion throughout life was sports, as a player, as a coach, and as a fan. His college basketball team was inducted into the Central Washington University Hall of Fame in 1997. He played slow-pitch softball many, many years until 2003. He was also proud of his 12 years of service as a volunteer fireman in North Bend.He was preceded in death by his parents; two older brothers and sisters-in-law, Clyde and Margie Whitson and Earl and Georgia Whitson; and brothers-in-law, Eugene Magnochi and Jack Dunfee. He is survived by his wife, Nancy, and five sons and their families: Rick and Mara and their son, Toby Benefield; Greg and his daughter and son-in-law, Devon and James Heckathorn; Rob and Jackie and their children, Jacob and Jana; Gary and Sally and their two sons, Sky and Kyle; and Tim and his special friend, Heasun, and her sons, Joonha and Yoonha. He is also survived by his sister, Myrtle Magnochi; his sister-in-law, Stephany Dunfee; and his aunt, Jean Elliott. Other survivors include his niece, Linda (Lave) Gustafson; his nephew, George (Diane) Magnochi; several great nieces, nephews and cousins. He also leaves his two special dogs, Otis and Bella.A memorial service celebrating his life will be held on Saturday, September 12, 2009, at 11:00 a.m. in the Purdy & Walters Floral Hills Chapel, 409 Filbert Road, Lynnwood, WA., with the Reverend Richard Edmonds officiating.Memorials in his name may be made to the Evergreen Hospice Services in Kirkland, WA. Messages for the family may be left at www.mem.com.
