Seth Jacob Reichelt

Seth was born in Grand Rapids, Minn., on Sept. 19, 1982. The answer to his parent’s prayers, they spent his first year in an old-growth, white pine log house in the Isabella Ranger District area of Isabella, Minn.

Seth was an instant delight to everyone, especially the Forest Service families who volunteered to help during long, cold midwestern winters. When Seth was three years old, brother Dylan joined the family and they put down roots in Lakewood, Wis.

Seth and Dylan thoroughly enjoyed the outdoors. Whether trudging through snowbanks, chasing each other around the woods, dressing up in costumes, engaging in fantastical adventures, or playing with the family dogs, the two were close. Their quiet town provided a safe and nurturing backdrop, and their antics were well-known.

In 1988, the family moved again, this time across the country to Colville, Wash. Here, both Seth and Dylan attended school, were avid swimmers, and participated in Boy Scouts, children’s theater, soccer, the swim team, and black-belt level Taekwondo. They attended summer camp back in Minnesota and often took canoe trips through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.

As an adult, Seth continued to prefer these remote, forested locations and chose to stay in Washington state as an adult. Even though he now lived in Washington, Seth remained a loyal Minnesota Vikings fan for life.

A typical Gen-Y digital native, Seth found a circle of dear friends who, through his entire adulthood, shared similar interests in gaming and cosplay. He was involved with the high school drama club where he worked lighting and sound for many productions.

It was during one of these performances that Seth was called from the booth to learn he had Type I diabetes and summoned immediately to the Colville Hospital. That was the beginning of his insulin-dependent life.

After graduating from high school in 2001, Seth and his mother flew to England to visit Tintagel Castle in North Cornwall. Many believe this is where the legends involving King Arthur, wizard Merlin, and magical sword Excalibur took place. Seth loved those stories and maintained a life-long interest in swords.

While in England, Seth found himself the sole visitor for a tour of Warhammer World in Nottingham. This experience heightened his love of painting miniature Elven armies, constructing dioramas, and playing Warhammer with his friends.

Seth attended Colville Community College and in 2006, married Amanda Kilpatrick, also of Colville. The couple bred and raised show-quality American Staffordshire terriers, an experience that grew from his childhood love of dogs and gave him greater appreciation for different species and behaviors.

They moved to Spokane where Seth worked for the Arc of Spokane, Jack in the Box, and 7-Eleven until his health took a turn for the worse. Seth and Amanda parted ways in 2011.

By 2015, Seth’s kidneys had failed and he moved to Forks, Wash., to live with his mother and stepfather. He continued to receive dialysis and advanced medical treatments in Seattle until his death from end-stage renal failure. Even though his body was failing, he tried to stay active with hobbies and interests. Undaunted by pain and ever-increasing weakness, he was alert and selflessly positive to the end.

Seth was always a caring and devoted friend. Kindness, selflessness, empathy, humor, imagination, and creativity shaped his lifelong adventure. On Earth, Seth fashioned himself after the noble knights of legend. He is now surely a “White Knight” for God in the Kingdom of Heaven.

The family wishes to thank his many caring doctors and medical professionals from Forks, Port Angeles, and Seattle’s Virginia Mason hospitals. They provided excellent care as his disease progressed.

Seth is survived and greatly missed by his mother, Cynthia Bork, Forks, Wash.; father, Dennis Reichelt (Kate), Portland, Ore.; stepfather, Richard Whitaker, Forks, Wash.; brother, Dylan Reichelt, Spokane, Wash.; aunts: Debora Bork, Cleveland, Ohio; Valerie Enkhaus, Ramsey, Minn.; Verneil (Don) Teply, Tyndall, S.D.; uncles: Jeffrey Borkowski (Anne), Los Angeles, Calif.; Greg (Lisa) Reichelt, Minneapolis, Minn.; James Reichelt, Norwalk, Iowa; Warren, Sioux Falls, S.D.; cousins: Margaret Callahan (Kyle Maloney), Silver Spring, Md.; Caroline Callahan (Jack Pitfield), Asheville, N.C.; Timothy (TJ) Callahan (Michael Manganiello), Baltimore, Md.; Andrew Bork (Ann Marie), Saint Paul, Minn.; Hunter Enkhaus, Zimmerman, Minn.; Logan Enkhaus, Minneapolis, Minn.; Benjamin Reichelt, Minneapolis, Minn.; Amanda Reichelt, Minneapolis, Minn.; Steven Reichelt, Minneapolis, Minn.; Rebecca Reichelt, Spring Lake Park, Minn.; Denise (Nelson) Donovan, Tony Nelson, Valerie (Nelson) Schamp, Sioux Falls, S.D.; Lori (Reichelt) Melin, Kathy (Reichelt) DePauw, Kerri (Reichelt) Konshak, Sioux Falls, S.D.; Greg Teply, Anne (Teply) Fisher, Tom Teply, Sioux Falls, S.D.; Michael Reichelt, Matthew Reichelt, Daniel Reichelt, Nathan Reichelt, Sioux Falls, S.D.

Seth was preceded in death by his grandparents Edward and Ruth Bork of Austin, Minn., Velmar and Ann Reichelt, and aunt Marilyn Nelson all of Sioux Falls, S.D.