Donald Rydrych

11/10/1930 — 2/15/2026

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Donald Jerry Rydrych, formerly of Helix, Ore., passed away Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026, in Lewiston. He was born in Grand Rapids, Minn., Nov. 10, 1930, to Jerry and Stephanie Rydrych, the oldest of four children. The family moved from Deer River, Minn., to Lewiston, in 1947. He graduated from Lewiston High School in 1948. He received his B.A. in Agriculture from the University of Idaho in 1953. Traveling to Austria with the International Farm Youth Exchange, he met his future wife, Bernice Loy. They were married in Pennsylvania in 1953.

He joined the U.S. Army under the ROTC program in 1954 and was sent to Germany. Honorably discharged as a First Lieutenant in 1956, he and Bernie returned to the U.S. He then joined the Army Reserves until 1961.

He received his master’s degree in Agronomy from the College of Washington (now Washington State University) in 1958. Then he started his career as an agronomist, weed and pesticide scientist and researcher at WSU, then moving to the experimental station at Oregon State University. He was named Professor Emeritus before his retirement in the 1990s.

Don loved music and learned to play the accordion from his father. He later learned the upright bass fiddle and played many venues with a band in the Pendleton area.

Don lived a life full of kindness, devotion, hard work, loved the Lord and his family and his sense of humor entertained everyone always, and leaves a huge hole in the hearts he leaves behind.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Bernie, sister Donna Lee Mallory and brother Darrell Rydrych.

He is survived by his sons Ki Rydrych (Jenny), Jared Rydrych (Wendy), all of Texas; his four grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and his sister Denise White.

Don will be laid to rest next to his wife Bernie at a private family memorial at Genesee Valley Lutheran Church Cemetery, Friday, Feb. 20, with Tom Blewett officiating.

Na-shledanou

(Farewell)

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