Washington - Thor Donald Linde, of Everett, Washington, passed away peacefully in his sleep on September 21, 2022, at the age of 88.

Thor "Donald' was born in Seattle in 1934 to Thor Ivar Linde from Bergen, Norway and Esther Olive Lund of Aberdeen, Washington. He grew up in the Grays Harbor area with his younger brother James, (deceased). Donald played football and basketball at Ocosta High School in Grayland, Washington and graduated Valedictorian in 1952.

He enrolled in Grays Harbor Community College where he met his future wife, Patricia Welsh. They were married in 1955 in Aberdeen and then they moved to Seattle, where Don earned his Bachelors Degree and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa from the School of Business at the University of Washington.

Don began his business career dealing in fresh fruit and produce and later in the institutional food business holding the State of Washington contract supplying food to all the institutions in the state as well as Alaska and the US military bases.

Donald was a lover of sports and a fan of all the local teams.

He and Patricia held Husky Football Season tickets for 57 years as well as Super Sonics NBA season tickets, and attending Seahawks and Mariner games over the years. The couple attended many Rose Bowls and UW Bowl games, and Mariners Spring Training games in Arizona.

His true love of sport however was playing tennis. In 1974, he started a men's doubles group with 4 players, blossoming to over 40 players and to this day, there are doubles players filling the courts at Robinswood in Bellevue on Tuesday and Thursday nights. He also started another group in Seattle on the tennis courts of Lower Woodland Park near Greenlake. Those courts were filled every Friday afternoon with a new batch of players. Don played in many tournaments over the years and amassed many tennis trophies to prove his winning ways on the courts. He travelled to watch tennis around the world including London for Wimbledon, Paris for the French Open, and New York for the U.S. Open with his family.

Don was always there to help and come to the aid of anyone in need. As a Friend of Bill W. for 47 years, he was a mentor and helper and loved by so many he encountered throughout his life.

He was famous for his homemade soups, potato salad and barbeques with the family. He was a terrific joke and story teller and always sharing a story or a laugh with his many friends and family.

He was a world traveler and lover of books. He travelled to Europe on many occasions and three trips to Norway to visit his many 1st cousins for Linde family reunions. Donald loved the ocean too, having grown up near the beach in Grayland, Washington. Each year, the family spent a week on the Oregon Coast, one of their favorite places for a summer vacation.

Donald is survived by his wife, Patricia of Everett, their children Steven of Portland, Oregon; Thomas and Karen of Seattle, one grandchild Diana and many cousins, nieces and nephews. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

A Celebration of Life will be held Sunday, November 13, 2022 from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the Sons of Norway Normanna Lodge, 2725 Oakes Avenue, Everett, WA 98201.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Undergraduate Scholarship Fund at Foster School of Business at the University of Washington.