David William McKern

David William McKern was born on May 3, 1953, in Ione, Washington, to his loving parents, William and Madelyn McKern. Dave was raised in Metaline Falls, where many of his favorite memories were made while fishing in Mill Creek, hiking up Hall Mountain, and photographing the local mountain goat up close to win a contest. He played football, baseball, and wrestled for Selkirk High School, but he moved to Medical Lake for his senior year. Dave also enjoyed riding his bike around Metaline Falls, occasionally getting talked to by the police chief…who took him to the mayor…and the mayor was David’s father!  Summer days were spent hitchhiking to Sullivan Lake with his buddies, hunting with his dad and good friend “Bump.”

He loved catching critters. One particularly memorable catch of his included a skunk that he caught with an army jacket. It didn’t really work out well for Dave! He spent the night outside! Dave married Connie Maupin and had two children, Davey and Brett. They spent five years in Spokane, where Dave worked for Boise Cascade. Dave and Connie then moved to Kettle Falls, where they raised the boys, played softball, and worked at Boise. Connie passed away in 1982 from cancer. In 1983, Dave married Valerie Vercoe. He continued working at Boise for 42 years total, where he was the union president for many years. He had two more children, Casey and Shelbie. 

He coached baseball, softball, and basketball for many of his kids’ teams over the years. Many great memories were made while traveling to and from sports events. Over the years, he watched hours and hours of his kids and grandkids playing for the Kettle Falls Bulldogs. Dave loved his nieces and nephews, Monica, Bill, Robyn, and Jill. Together, they created many memories through various adventures. Over the years, he discovered a passion for large-mouth bass fishing at Twin Lakes, and he always had a love for fishing the canals at Browns. 

The kids and grandkids all learned to fly fish in the canals and how to tie a bucktail and renegade.  Many hours were spent hunting with friends and family. He taught many kids to hunt over the years. He hunted with his dad and Grandpa Vercoe for years, always finding as much pleasure in others’ success as he did in his own.  Being a grandpa was his greatest pleasure in life. 

He loved spending time at Browns with just him and the kids. Camping, watching the stars, and fishing were among his favorite activities.  Dave passed peacefully on July 27, 2026, in Kettle Falls, Washington. He was preceded in death by his parents, William Boyd McKern and Madlyn Verna McKern, and his sister, Sharon Billie (McKern) Westfall Sanders. 

He is survived by his children, William Dave McKern (Keli), their son Conner McKern (Makayla), and their children, Natalie and Branson, William’s daughter Kennedy Brink (Seth) and their son, Walker, Brett Lee McKern (Kelli), and their children, Chase, Cade, Meg, and Cooper, Casey Dean McKern (Fiancé Molly Larson), and their children Mace, Cambria, Tatum and Chancellor, and Shelbie Henderson and her children, Riggins and Boyd. In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Kettle Falls Booster Club, 1120 S Oak St., K.F., WA 99141. There will be a celebration of life on Thursday, August 6, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at the Ag Trade Center (317 W Astor Avenue, Colville, WA 99114).