Gerald Raymond House

Gerald Raymond House, 76, of Vader, WA, passed away Tuesday, October 29, 2013, at Providence Centralia Hospital in Centralia, WA. Arrangements were with Funeral Alternatives of Lacey, WA. A private family service will be held at a later date, with interment at Slayton Memorial Gardens in Slayton, MN. Gerald Raymond House was born on February 22, 1937, in Westfield, IA. He was the son of Raymond and Violet (Skogsberg) House. He received his education in Fulda, MN, and graduated from Fulda High School in 1955. Gerald enlisted in the Minnesota National Guard in 1960 and served his country for 3 years, after which he received an honorable discharge. Gerald was a Mason and a proud member of the Murray Lodge #199 for over 50 years. He followed the path of the Scottish Rite and went on to become a Shriner. He was also a member of the ElRiad Shrine in Sioux Falls, SD. On December 6, 1958, Gerald was united in marriage to Linda Veenhuis. This marriage was blessed with two children, Scott and Shari. Gerald later married Sharon Easterday in 1990. In addition to farming, Gerald held employment as a commercial and private airplane pilot. His career path led him to residences in Sioux Falls, SD, Oklahoma City, OK, Sherman Oaks, CA; and Tacoma, WA. After retiring from flying Gerald worked briefly as a licensed realtor and a long haul truck driver. Gerald’s love of farming took him back to Minnesota every fall to harvest corn and beans. His favorite pastime was restoring his antique John Deere tractors and Lindeman crawler. He also enjoyed tending to his small orchard of honey crisp apple trees. Gerald especially enjoyed the time he spent with his children and grandchildren. Gerald is survived by his children, Scott House and his wife, Carrie, of Puyallup, WA, and Shari Zieman and her husband, Dale, of Hutchinson MN; grandchildren Bradley Zieman and Jessica Zieman of Hutchinson, MN, Valerie House of Puyallup, WA, and step-granddaughter Carolyn Watson of Puyallup, WA; his sister, Shirley Johnson and her husband, Earl, of Slayton, MN, cousins, and nephews. Gerald was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond & Violet House, and an infant son Joel R House.