Daniel Victor Witte

Daniel Victor Witte, 63, Iongtime Grant County resident, was called home into the loving arms of his Savior, on the morning of Thursday, Sept. 7, 2006, Dan's day of completion. Dan passed peacefully at home, in Moses Lake, with his wife by his side, after a long 17 month courageous battle with throat cancer.

Dan was born in Shelby, Mont., on Feb. 11, 1943. At the age of two, Dan and his family moved to Hebron, N.D., area. Dan was the first born of 12 children. At the age of 13, he and his family and eight other siblings, in 1956, moved to a 160 acre farm in the Ephrata/Winchester area.

Dan attended Ephrata schools, completing the ninth grade. He then chose to continue to help his family, on the family farm; hauling hay grown there throughout the Northwest and even into Canada.

For a while Dan worked in Alaska. He worked for a forklift company in Sparks, Nev. While there and living in Fernley, Nev., he met and married his wife, Linda on Oct. 8, 1971. Dan immediately, willingly took on the responsibility of being daddy to Linda's two sons.

In April 1972, Dan moved his family and sons to the Ephrata area, coming back to help his birth family with their family farm. This was so typical of Daniel. He had a servant heart. He was a quiet soul, but with great depth and wisdom, who loves his Lord Jesus with all his heart, soul and mind. May 1998, Dan and Linda moved into their new manufactured home in Moses Lake, residing there until his call Home to Glory.

Dan was an employee at ConAgra-Lamb Weston, in Quincy, since 1977 until his retirement last December 2005. He was a faithful and dedicated employee while there. He performed his job of maintenance mechanic the same way he lived his life. Any job that Dan took on, whether it be his workplace or being a willing vessel for God to work through, he always did it with his whole heart.

Daniel was ordained a minister in 1984. God led he and his wife Linda, to open a small storefront mission in Soap Lake from I986 to 1990. He and his wife took in many homeless people, showing them the Christian love that was in his heart. Wherever Dan was employed he loved to reach out and pray for his co-workers whenever he saw they needed prayer and T.L.C. Dan and his wife also held home meetings in their home. Dan loved to share his deep, deep knowledge and love of God' s Word.

During Dan's courageous battle with throat cancer, which was his third time, he loved to listen to praise music and scripture set to music. Throughout it all, he chose to trust our Lord for everyday's existence. He continued to give thanks to Jesus for even the breath he had, even when it became at times difficult to breath.

Daniel is survived by his wife Linda, at their home on Grape Drive; his two step-sons, whom he dearly loved, Mark of Spokane and Wade of Sheridan, Ore.; his brothers Tom and wife, Terri, Rock and wife Cindy, Mike and wife Rita of Ephrata; Bob of Soap Lake; Warren and wife Ara of Wenatchee; sisters, Pat and husband Dennis, Nancy of Soldotna, Alaska; Carmen of Bellingham; grandson Brian of Moses Lake and many nephews and nieces.

Dan's family members who were there to greet Dan at the Gates of Heaven were his father Victor; mother Agnes; sisters, Alice and Cora; brother Carver; father-in-law Harold and numerous relatives and friends. Surely Thursday there was a party of celebration when Saint Daniel arrived a victor in life and death.

Daniel we will miss our gentle saint but we celebrate your life and the end to your pain and the beginning of your glorious eternal life forever in the presence of your father.

A celebration of life memorial service will be held on Sept. 20 at 1 p.m. at CMA/Christian Missionary Alliance Church at 1100 N. Grape Drive, Moses Lake. Dan would wish for his friends and family to come together to celebrate his life with Joy.

Benson Family Funeral Services, Moses Lake, are in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, donations towards funeral expenses will be appreciated.