Walter Busse

Walter Henry Busse was born on February 8, 1926, in Portland, OR and was the fifth child of eight born to his German father, Robert G. and Swedish mother, Elida Erickson Busse. He died peacefully at home on June 11, 2023, surrounded by his family.

In 1929 the family moved to 320 acres on the Upper Naselle Road where he spent his summers roaming the woods, picking blackberries, peeling bark, and dreaming of being a pilot. He attended Naselle Schools.

At 17, Walt packed his clothes in a portable record player case, hitched a ride with Forrest Holm in his oyster delivery truck to Portland and worked for Kaiser-Swan Island Shipyard at Swan Island, Portland, OR.  During his short period of employment, he became a journey electrician.

He joined the Army-Air Force in 1944 and was honorably discharged as a sergeant in 1946. He had “secret clearance” and received training in radio transmitter and receivers, electronics, radar and radio repair, LORAN, and all electronics. He received perfect marksmanship and expert marksmanship awards.

When he came home, he worked driving log trucks, as a timber faller and with his brothers (Albert, Eddie, and Art); they logged their mother’s timber.

He married Margaret (Peggy) Mathews on August 28, 1953, and they had Jerry, Patty, Scott, and Carolyn.

He worked for Western Wahkiakum County Telephone Company as the Central Office Technician for 35 years until he retired. He had his own business in the 1950s repairing TVs and which included a private local community antenna system.

On June 5, 1999, he married Doris Borud and welcomed three stepchildren: Shawn, Kelly, and Darcy.

His favorite memories were family times, reunions, fishing, making firewood, rides up to the homeplace and in the woods, listening to Johnny Cash, watching TV western, wearing his red felt hunting hat, and tending to his tomato plants and blueberry bushes. He will be missed for his love of telling stories and his one-line quips.

He is survived by his wife, Doris; children, Patty Busse, Portland, OR; Scott (Dee) Busse, Hoquiam, WA; Carolyn Busse, Portland, OR; daughter-in-law, Bonnie Busse, Naselle, WA; stepdaughter Kelly Zakel Larson (Dale), Ellensburg, WA; stepson Darcy Zakel, Naselle, WA; grandchildren Lynne Anderson (Karl), Mike Busse, Blake

Busse (Jessica); eight great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren plus one on the way and many nieces and nephews.

Walt was proceeded in death by wife, Peggy; son, Jerry Busse; stepson, Shawn Zakel; brothers: Robert, Albert, Eddie, and Art; sisters: Margaret, Ruth, and Dorothy.

Graveside services will be on Saturday, July 8, 2023, with color guard at 1:00 at Peaceful Hill Cemetery with a potluck reception following at Naselle Lutheran Church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Naselle Fire Dept, 17 N Valley Rd, Naselle, WA 98638 or Peaceful Hill Cemetery Assn, PO Box 501, Naselle, WA 98638.