Donald E. Rettinghouse departed this world to be with his creator on November 19, 2009, not as he wished, but according to God's Plan. Don was born January 3, 1933 in Berwick, ND to Johanna Klause and George 'Arthur' Rettinghouse, moving to Twin Falls, ID 10 months later. As a young boy he loved to go hunting, fishing and the five cent movies on Saturday. He developed a love for horses and was soon working livestock sales on his own horse. During the summer of his high school years he wrangled on the cattle ranches in Nevada, roping, branding and driving cattle to sales. He began learning and playing guitar with his father, who played violin. He and his four siblings were blessed with a gift of musicsang and harmonized on every occasion as they were growing up. After high school he spent the summer as a Dude Wrangler in Sun Valley, ID. In 1952, at 19, he moved to Pasco, where his father operated Pasco Radiator on the corner of 2nd and Columbia. He joined the Army during the Korean War which ended while he was still in Basic Training. He was stationed in Anchorage, AK until his Honorable Discharge in 1955. He met and married his one and only, Juanita Benson Johnson in 1956, along with a stepson. They celebrated 53 years together and were blessed with two more sons. Don worked briefly as a salesman for Stromme Motors, and NP Railway, but retired after 30 years as a member of Teamsters Local #839 as a local delivery truck driver. He began playing western music professionally in the early 60's, and was a member of the Musicians Local #524. He played throughout the Columbia Basin with the 'Westernairs' and Donna Jean's 'Country Affair'. In the early 1990's, after early retirement he began playing for local retirement homes, assisted living facilities, and elder day care. He was renowned for his 'popcorn' generously shared with family, friends and the Franklin County Historical Society where he volunteered for many years. In 2005 he was unexpectedly diagnosed with Chronic Lymphatic Leukemia CLL after many years as a regular blood donor. In December of 2008, after a bad cold he began to lose his voice. After many frustrating months a biopsy revealed a carcinoma tumor on his vocal cord. During the proceding months he continued to sing. In September of 2009 he began chemo and radiation therapy to eradicate/shrink the tumor. In a matter of weeks the Leukemia began to accelerate and within a week he became extremely anemic and severely jaundiced. Don was preceded in death by his parents, three siblings, Dorothy Bob Lilly, Phyllis Carl Billings and George Rettinghouse, and a beloved mother-in-law Esther Benson Covington. In addition to his wife Nita, he is survived by stepson Andy Johnson Pasco, sons Garth Kennewick and Joel Spokane; sister Joan Pryor-Marks Keith, Aunt Marion Unser Yakima. Don had ten grandchildren, Michael Johnson, Summer Singer Paul, Amber Johnson, Jason Johnson, Brent and Rheannon Nunamaker, Brandon and Cody Rettinghouse, Jaime and Josh Rettinghouse. Greatgrandchildren Mikey Johnson, Daicee, Logan, and Ashton Singer, Samantha Hubble, Jadyn Nunamaker and numerous nieces and nephews. No flowers please, memorial donations may be made to the Franklin County Historical Society Endowment, PHS 1946, at 305 N. Fourth Ave., Pasco, WA 99301