Clarence C. Schott

Clarence C. Schott

Clarence C. Schott was born January 2, 1926, near Kulm, North Dakota. He passed away May 21, 2025, in Kirkland, Washington.

Clarence grew up on a farm near Kulm. He was the ninth of 10 children born to Peter and Lydia (Siewert) Schott. These early years on the farm fostered his love of the outdoors and especially his love of horses.

After graduating from high school, he entered the Army Air Force in 1945. After his military discharge, he decided to go to Dakota Business College in Fargo along with his brother. His time at this college was life changing. Not only did he prepare for his career in banking, but more importantly, this was where he met his lifelong love, LaVonne Kay Peterson.

But when Clarence decided to move to Washington State (where another brother already lived), LaVonne’s boss at the college found her a job working for Congress in Washington, D.C.—the opposite coast! Clarence often laughed and said “I don’t think he thought this German farm boy was good enough for LaVonne.” However, true love prevailed, and Clarence and LaVonne were married December 24, 1952, in Tacoma, Washington—the start of their 72 years of marriage.

Clarence spent most of his career at Washington Federal Savings & Loan (now WaFd) where he worked his way up from a teller to vice president, responsible for the bank’s Kirkland branch. He was actively involved in his community and held numerous leadership positions in the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, and his church. He was even named Citizen of the Year for his dedication to the Kirkland community. He and LaVonne were also actively engaged in state and local political campaigns.

But above all, Clarence was a family man and loved spending time with his children, Cory and LaFay, and then later, his grandchildren, Miles and Morgan. He and LaFay shared a love of horses and horseback riding. He and Cory loved golfing and water skiing together. His love of family spilled over to the extended family and he was adored by his dozens of nieces and nephews. At any family gathering, if you heard laughter, you knew that Clarence would be at the center of it.

Clarence’s greatest gifts were his zest for life and his generous and loving spirit. He genuinely cared about people, which is demonstrated by how many of his nieces and nephews think of him as a second father. He is the best example of living life to the fullest—whether water skiing at the family’s Blue Lake cabin, actively supporting the Seahawks and University of Washington Huskies, snow skiing with his buddies (even until his mid-80s!), or engaging his curiousity about his Black Sea German family history.

Clarence is survived by his wife LaVonne, his daughter LaFay (Bob) Dillon, his two grandchildren Miles (Devi) Dillon and Morgan Sibolski, three great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his son Cory and his nine brothers and sisters.

Clarence will be deeply missed by all his family, friends, and everyone whose lives he touched.

AND NOW…AUF WIEDERSEHEN!