William Botten Moe

Long-time Moses Lake resident, William Botten Moe, died at his home on July 13, 2012, after a lengthy illness.

Bill was born in Arlington, Washington on March 25, 1930, living those first few years with his family at the English Logging Camp near Mt. Vernon, Washington where his father was a steam-train engineer.

His growing up years were spent in Orting, Washington. While in high school, he not only played baseball, football and basketball, but also played trumpet in the school band.

Bill later attended the University of Washington in Seattle and DeForest Technical Institute in Chicago. Bill and Diane Helgeson were married in 1950 and soon moved to Moses Lake; two sons, David and Daniel, completed the family.

He worked with his father, Jalmer Moe, at Moe's Oil Well , on West Broadway, in the 1950's. In the 1960's, Bill started his own company, Central Towing , became a respected member of the Moses Lake business community, and served one term on City Council.

Although Bill earned his private pilot wings early on, it wasn't until 2009, when retired, that he bought an airplane and spent many happy hours restoring it to its former glory. He took great delight in flying to visit two of his granddaughters and their families in Idaho, going to fly-ins in many parts of Washington State, and taking family members and friends for short flights, all the while being a member of the UFO's, the United Flying Octogenarians, a group of pilots all over the age of 80.

Bill was an active member of the Columbia Basin Sons of Norway Lodge, and the Peninsula Community Church, singing in the choir and serving as a grounds and maintenance Steward.

While his parents, Sylvia and Jalmer Moe, and his wife of 56 years, Diane, predeceased Bill, he is survived by two sons: David (Jeannie) and Danny of Moses Lake; five grandchildren: Katy Moe Bostock (Kyle) of Sand Point, Idaho, Carrie Moe Lacey (Nate) of Boise, Idaho, Riley Moe of Eugene, Oregon, Chloe Moe, and Wyatt Moe both of Moses Lake; and three great grandchildren. Three sisters survive him: Florence Swanson of Tacoma, Irene Ovenden of Vancouver, BC and Janet Reinsdorf of Quesnel, BC; as well as three nieces and three nephews, an aunt, Thelma June Lund of Morton, Washington, and a host of cousins.

The date and location of a Celebration of Life service for Mr. Moe will be announced later.