Nesto Saint Pontin, age 93 of Prosser, passed away peacefully in his sleep on March 29, 2019. He was born on January 15, 1926 in Yakima, Washington to Angelo and Louise Pontin. He was raised and educated in the West Valley area of Yakima and attended Wide Hollow School. Nesto met Delores Margaret Helm on a blind date in January of 1950 and they were married seven months later on August 20th in Yakima. In 1954, they made their home in Prosser. They raised turkeys and grew grapes, apples, sugar beets and potatoes. In 1982, Nesto and his son Scott planted their first wine grapes, White Riesling, which led to farming of other varieties of wine grapes and eventually the beginning of Pontin del Roza Winery.
Nesto had a great passion for farming, flying, and enjoyed traveling with Delores. He loved his family endlessly and treasured his time spent with them, especially on the farm. You could count on him to be up before the sun, out driving around in the mule. He was a member of the Yakima Valley Grape Growers Association and Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers. He was a devoted member of the Prosser Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Nesto is survived by his wife of sixty-nine years, Delores Pontin of Prosser; daughters, Colleen Little (Mike) and Diane Gessner (John) all of Richland; daughter-in-law, Shelly Pontin of Prosser. He is also survived by nine grandchildren, Michael Pontin (Chenea), Heather Noyola (Noel), Melissa Waddle, John Risk, Skyler Risk (Kristen), Steven Little (Linda), Jarrod Miller (Marissa), Jessica Jackman and Jason Gessner (Kati); and fourteen great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Fernando Pontin; and two sons, Larry Pontin and Scott Pontin. He leaves behind many friends that have become family, including his right-hand man, Miguel Moreno.
Viewing is scheduled for Friday. April 5th from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Prosser Funeral Home. Nesto will be laid to rest at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 6 at the Prosser Cemetery. A celebration of Nesto’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 6 at the Prosser Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses. A reception will follow at the Prosser Senior Center at 3:00 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Prosser Kingdom Hall or the Prosser Senior Center. You may leave a message for the family at www.prosserfuneralhome.com