John F. Vondergeest, of Ellensburg, WA, died in Renton on Thursday December 25, 2008. He was 69 years old. John was born on November 2, 1939 in Jamestown, North Dakota, the son of Hans and Irene Vondergeest. He was raised in Jamestown, North Dakota and graduated from high school in 1957. He served with the United States Navy from June 1957 and retired November of 1979 with a rank of Chief Petty Officer. John was stationed at Glenview Naval Air Station where he met and married his wife of nearly 42 years, Carole M. Petrak. During their lifetime together they endured a variety of naval transfers in which he attended North Dakota State University, Jamestown College and Western Washington University. After retiring from the Navy in 1979 John was an aviation electrician for Boeing and after a period of time became a commercial electrician until his retirement in 1997. During his years as an electrician he also earned a Horticulturalist's degree from Edmonds Community College. John always kept his North Dakota roots close to his heart and managed to keep his passion for farming alive. He raised beef cattle and always had a large vegetable garden; one of his favorite places to be was his woodworking shop making Adirondack chairs and lamps of all shapes and sizes. In June of 2002 John and Carole moved to Ellensburg Washington where they have resided since. John was a loving husband, father and grandfather..he will forever be in our hearts. Survivors include his wife Carole, daughters Lynn M. Evans (Greg), Whitney A. Holt (Steve) and son Eric John (Jennifer) in addition to 6 grandchildren; His sisters Dora Larson and Arlene Moen of North Dakota and his brother Bruce Vondergeest of Custer, Washington. A committal service will be held in Kent, Washington at Tahoma National Cemetery on Friday, January 9th at 11:15 AM. Friends are invited and encouraged to share memories and sign the family's on-line guest book at www.flintofts.com. Arrangements are by Flintofts Funeral Home and Crematory