Malcom Lyle Clinton,

Malcom Lyle Clinton

Malcom Lyle Clinton, a lifelong resident of Rice, WA, passed away on September 23, 2026, in Spokane, WA, after suffering a heart attack.  He was 73 years old.  Lyle was born in Colville, WA, in August of 1953 to his parents Kenneth Gerald “Buck” Clinton and Lois Mae (Nickles) Clinton.  He was the second child in a family that would include six children.

Lyle attended the Rice Grade School from first through eighth grade.  He spent his childhood years playing with friends, hunting, fishing, and riding horseback.  He was a member of the Stranger Creek 4-H Club, proudly showing his gelding Rock at the Colville and Hunters Fairs.  Growing up in a family in the farming/ranching/logging business, he also learned to work as hard as he played.  From the early age of 8 or 9, Lyle “spotted” truck during harvest, drove tractor during haying season, built fence, moved cattle – all typical work for “country kids”.  This contributed to his long-standing work ethic.  Finishing grade school, Lyle attended Kettle Falls High School where he played football and was active in school activities of Future Farmers of America, Student Council, and Letterman’s Club.  He graduated in 1971.

Soon after graduation, Lyle moved to Grant, Montana, where he “buckerood” on the Lazy E Four.  He returned to Rice in 1972 and worked for his dad farming and logging.  At this time, he started rodeoing, competing in bareback and saddle bronc, and continued to rodeo through the mid to late 1980’s.  In his later years, he enjoyed team roping.

Lyle met his wife, Debbie Monroe, at the Inchelium rodeo in 1973.  They married in November 1975 in Coeur d’Alene, ID, and settled in Rice, WA.  Their first son, Levi Troy Clinton, was born March 18, 1977, with Devin Tyree Clinton following on March 11, 1980.

Throughout his life, Lyle worked at various jobs.  In 2003-2004, he worked with his brother, Marvin Clinton, and his nephews, Kelsey and Trevor Anderson, on Johnston Atoll Island cleaning up hazardous waste.  From 2011 through 2017, he worked in the oil fields of North Dakota and in construction in Colorado.  However, he always returned to work at the job he loved – logging.

Lyle was preceded in death by his younger sister Vinnie Clinton, his parents Buck and Lois Clinton, his grandparents Kenneth and Maysel Clinton and Jake and Josie Nickles.  He is survived by his wife, Debbie Clinton of Rice; son and daughter-in-law, Troy and Veronica Clinton; and grandchildren Kaegen and Elise of Hartline, WA; son Devin Clinton of Millsap, TX; his sisters, Rette Bidstrup of Colville, WA, Julie Clark of Kettle Falls, WA, and Fastina Clinton of Chewelah, WA; and his brother Marvin Clinton of Springfield, CO, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.  A Celebration of Life is planned for June 12, 2027, at noon at 2215 Sand Canyon Road, Chewelah, WA.