Theodore Mateo "Ted" Arregui

Theodore Mateo “Ted” Arregui, age 82, passed away on March 5, 2024, at his home in Bellingham, WA, surrounded by his loving wife and three daughters.

Ted was born in Boise, Idaho, in 1941 to parents, John and Marie Arregui. He graduated from St. Teresa’s Academy in Boise and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree at Saint Martin’s University in Lacey, Washington.

After college, Ted began his career as an insurance adjuster. For six years, Ted also served in the Air National Guard of Idaho and Oregon as an Airman Second Class. In 1967, he married Charmi Sower and shortly after, they moved from Boise to Salt Lake City, where he continued his insurance work. They celebrated the birth of their two daughters, Angie and Tiffany. In the early 1970s, Ted and family moved back to Boise where he began working for the State of Idaho, Disability Determination Services. He worked for them until 1974 when he was hired by the federal branch of the Social Security Administration — Disability Branch. Ted and Charmi celebrated the birth of their third daughter, Jenna, before moving the family to Bellevue, Washington. For the next 29 years, he worked for Social Security in downtown Seattle. Over his years of retirement, he maintained contact with many of the people with whom he had worked.

In the late 1980s, Ted and Charmi divorced, and Ted became a Seattle resident. It was there he met and married LaVonne Steiner, who lived with her daughter, Kari Steiner, in north Seattle. Ted and LaVonne travelled as often as possible and enjoyed vacationing in Hawaii and other tropical locations. Ted loved to read and acquired an immense library before he switched to the electronic variety. His Kindle was always close by, as was his TV remote. Football season was his favorite time of year. For 20 years, he faithfully attended Seahawks games, but then switched to cheering from his favorite chair at home. He and LaVonne attended Mariners games, UW Husky home games, and traveled to Las Vegas a few times to attend NASCAR races. He followed his favorite NASCAR drivers, and he also enjoyed attending several seasons of plays at the ACT and Seattle Repertory Theatres.

Ted loved babies. During his Seattle years, he volunteered at Children's Hospital in the neonatal department where he would hold and comfort newborns. He would hold and rock them, even though they might have all sorts of wires and tubing attached. In later years, he became recognized for the pictures and videos he posted on Facebook of babies and toddlers, and for his photos of colorful birds from around the world.

After retirement in 2005, he and LaVonne sold their Seattle home and had a new one built in Star, Idaho, a small-town west of Boise. Two of Ted’s daughters lived in the area and Ted enjoyed gathering whenever he could with the multitude of extended family living in the Boise area. He was proud of his Basque heritage and looked forward to the dinners, wine festivals, and summers when Jaialdi was celebrated. He was an avid fan of the Boise State Broncos and enjoyed attending their football games with some of his Boise cousins.

Although their main home was in Star, Idaho, Ted and LaVonne maintained a second residence in Bellingham, Washington, where Kari and her husband, Jon VanHouten, resided. Over the years, they traveled between Bellingham and Boise to have time with their children and to help with and enjoy the grandchildren living in both places. Ted was always present and cheering whenever one of his five grandsons were playing their games of soccer, baseball, basketball, or football. His grandson, Kincade, described him as his best fan. His cheering voice could always be heard above the rest of the crowd.

Ted was preceded in death by his parents, John and Marie Arregui, his brother-in-law, Ed Groff, LaVonne’s parents, Johnnie and Evelyn Johnson, and her son, Eric Steiner.

He is survived by his wife of almost 33 years, LaVonne Arregui, the mother of his three daughters, Charmi Arregui, daughters, Angie Arregui (Bob Rois), Tiffany Arregui, and Jenna Donaca (Greg Donaca), LaVonne’s daughter, Kari VanHouten (Jon VanHouten), his beloved grandchildren, Travis, Nathan, and Caleb Rois, Kincade and Emmett VanHouten, Alex Donaca (Katie Donaca) and Courtney Ginnetti (Curtis Ginnetti), and two great-grandchildren, Jackson Ginnetti and William Donaca. He is also survived by his sister, Audrey Groff, his brother-in-law, Mark Johnson (Karen Johnson), many cousins, and several generations of nieces and nephews.

Ted did not want a funeral. The family will plan a celebration in his honor. For those who want to make a donation in Ted’s name, he was a regular donor to The Idaho Foodbank and also supported the Basque Center and the Basque Museum. Ted would wish grace and peace to you all.