Don graduated from Battle Ground High School as the winner of the Arion Award. He continued his studies on the violin, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in music education and a Bachelor of Arts in music performance from Eastern Washington University, as well as a master’s degree in violin performance from Portland State. Don was a core player of the Vancouver Symphony and the Oregon East Symphony. He played with the Spokane Symphony, Portland Festival Symphony, Astoria Festival, Walla Walla Symphony, and regularly substituted with the Sunnyside Symphony, Willamette Falls Symphony, Washington Idaho Symphony, Juneau Symphony, and Tualatin Symphony. Don’s chamber music performances included the Music on the Mountain series at Crystal Records, the VSO Chamber Series and the Fertile Grounds Festival with the Leviathan Piano Trio.
Don and his wife enjoyed the outdoors together rafting, hiking and camping.
Don taught violin and piano to many students over the years.
Don was a captain on the family-owned commercial salmon troller as a teenager.
Don is survived by his wife, Annie (Harke) Power; his parents, Donald C. and Betty Lou Power; brother, Keven Power; nieces and nephews, Melani Olson, Rick Gonzales, Shawn Power, Jenette Power, Brandon Power, Laura Power, Chelsea (Power) Hall and David Hall; and great-nephews, Jared Gonzales, Dracen Power, Donnie Power and Liam Power. His brother Larry Ray Olson died in 1971.
