Danny Victor Le, born April 17, 1951 in Can Tho, along the Mekong River in Vietnam, passed on Friday, April 7, 2023, in Kennewick, surrounded by his family and loved ones. He is known in his community as "Danh" (pronounced yEhn), his Vietnamese name.

Danny and his wife, Hoa (pronounced Hwa) arrived in Tri-Cities in 1975 as Vietnamese refugees, with the support and generosity of the First Lutheran Church in Kennewick, sponsored by Helen and Rollin Smith, Ann and Darryl Rholl, and Evelyn and Fred Michel. Danny and Hoa spent the following 47 years making their new home in the United States, raising a family and providing for their children in Vietnam. Danny worked at Vista Field, Liquid Air Corp, O'Callahan's Restaurant in Shilo Inn, Lamb Weston and other jobs in Southern California where he was active in the first "Justice for Janitors" strikes, but he always called Kennewick home.

Danny grew up on a tea and rice farm in Can Tho with his parents and four sisters. Danny was the fourth child and the eldest son of his father's 21 children. After his mother's death, he moved to Saigon with his father until he left to earn his Ph.D. from the University of Paris. He taught for a brief stint at a local university upon his return to Saigon before the US-Vietnam War erupted throughout the country. Danny served in the South Vietnamese Marine Corps, in the Thủy Quân Lục Chiến division. There he formed lifelong friends and his passion for justice that he instilled in his children.

Danny loved BBQs, casinos, and watching football with his friends. He was an incredible singer of traditional Vietnamese folk music, wowing crowds with his unique ability to "ca giọng cổ" but in life he showed the most dedication to his family. He took great pride and made great sacrifices providing for his family and ensuring opportunities for his children and grandchildren that he never got to fulfill. And he loved his wife, Hoa. Together, they lost their country, lost their older children after the war before being divided for 14 years, came to a country where they knew no one, worked hard to give their families opportunities, and fell deeper in love each year they were together.

Danny is survived by his fiery wife, Hoa, children Tong, Thuy, Hien, all still in Vietnam, Dinh of Richland, Thuy Linh of Pasco, Phung of Garden Grove, CA, Dawn of Washington, DC, and Diann of Kennewick, along with their spouses/partners, 16 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and a vibrant community of Vietnamese friends in the Tri-Cities.

There will be a Buddhist ceremony celebrating Danny's life and love for his family Sunday, April 16 at Mueller's Funeral Home, 1401 S Union Street in Kennewick. Buddhist ceremony begins at 8am with visiting hours 11am - 1pm, followed by public viewing of cremation services.