Dean R. Hollenbeck, 89, passed away Friday, Nov. 28, 2014, in Kirkland, Wash., as the result of a fall four days prior.
He was born Dec. 23, 1924, to Harry and Buelah Hollenbeck in Bowman, N.D. The family moved to Tekoa in 1936. He joined the U.S. Navy in World War II, serving in the Pacific on the USS Amsterdam. On June 15, 1947, he and Barbara (Bobbe) Chappell were married in Tekoa. The same year, Dean went to work for Washington Water Power Company, now Avista, as a meter reader in Tekoa. He rose in the company and worked as a lineman, local representative and line foreman in Tekoa, Moscow and Kendrick. While in Kendrick, he received the Company Presidents Award for Outstanding Service. He retired in 1987 after 20 years as district manager in Colfax, following a distinguished 40-year career.
At that time, he and Bobbe moved to Priest Lake, Idaho, for 10 years, then to Liberty Lake, Wash. He was very active in each community in volunteer fire departments, was president of the local Lions, Kiwanis, chambers of commerce, president of the Latah County Chamber of Commerce, with the Masonic Lodge for 67 years, was past worthy master of the Tekoa Lodge, El Katif Shriners for 46 years, past president of the Whitman County Shriners Club. In his early years he loved to hunt and fish, particularly at Priest Lake. Later, he found golf, snowmobiling and wood carving to be his main interests. He became an accomplished wood carver of wild animals, birds, kachinas and cowboy boots.
He and Bobbe spent 10 years as snowbirds in Tucson, Ariz., and 13 years as full-time residents of Sun City West, Ariz. In 2013 they moved to Regency Castle in Newcastle, Wash., to be closer to family. His beliefs in honesty, loyalty and integrity were shown to all his friends and family through his words and actions.
He will be missed very much by his survivors, wife Bobbe; son Rod (Margo) of Bellevue, Wash.; four grandchildren, Tyler (Sarah) Hollenbeck of Mercer Island, Wash., Kira (Jed) Collins of Canton, Mich., Douglas Hollenbeck of Kirkland and Darcy Moore of New York; five great-grandchildren, Dean N. Hollenbeck, Palmer Collins, Michael, Sawyer and Jack Moore; brother Richard (Elsie) of Bonners Ferry, Idaho; sister Phyllis Schimling of San Luis Obispo, Calif.; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter Deana; three brothers; and two sisters.
No services will be held per his request. Memorials may be sent to Shriners Hospitals for Children, P.O. Box 2472, Spokane, WA 99210, or a charity of choice.
