Victor Lee Vanhorn

Son of Alvin “Al” Vanhorn and Ada Vanhorn

July 7th 1935 – March 14th 2026

Vic, dear husband, father, grandfather, brother, nephew and friend has reunited with his beloved wife Kathy at the side of Jesus. He will always be held with love and respect in the hearts of those that love him forever.

Vic was born in York, Nebraska on July 7th, 1935.  After a stressful delivery, Ada, his caring mother, exclaimed: “Victory!  Praise Jesus!”  Al and Ada chose the name Victor in thanks for the blessing of their first born.

Young Vic’s early memories of Nebraska were of the love given by his Aunt Ada Belle, Uncle Jesse and his cousins: Charlotte, Darlene, Bob and Virginia. Vic also picked up a Midwest accent that never fully left him.

In April, 1939, Vic’s father called little Vic. The Easter bunny had brought him a special gift!  He was led to a crib where his new little sister Lorena Belle slept.  A life-long sibling friendship that included some teasing too began.  In 2026, Lorena joined Jesus only one month prior to Vic.

In 1939, Al and Ada moved the family to Los Angeles in a over-loaded Model A. Young Vic enlivening the classroom and spent his spare time thinking of ways to avoid the neighborhood “street bullies” (gangs) to and from his walk to school.

With the end of WWII, Al and Ada returned to country life, leaving Los Angeles. First to Arlington, Washington and later in 1948 to Stevens County Washington, where Vic would live for the rest of his long life.

Until his early twenties, Vic could be seen: hunting grouse with his dog Touser, catching wild live weasels to hunt ground squirrels, picking apples at orchards, hunting bear with Eddie Huson, completing his high school diploma with the American School and prospecting for gold and uranium throughout Ferry, Stevens and Pend Oreille Counties.

On April 11, 1958, not long after Vic and his father had some success prospecting uranium, Vic was drafted into the US Army. Vic had mixed feelings about being drafted, as one may expect. However, he would often look back at those days with his outfit the Wolfhounds, enjoying in retrospect his time with the US Army.

Having served with honor, Vic came back to a welcome home celebration in his honor by the local church. There was a pretty young Canadian there, Kathleen Moore.  The next three months were a blur to young Kathy and Vic!  True love that would shine bright for their entire lives had been lit!

On September, 29th 1960, Victor and Kathleen married in a charming country wedding full of love. The newlyweds rented a sweet little house in Colville for a short time; just Vic, Kathy and their new little collie Sambo.

Baby Shiela was there before they could believe it.  While Vic worked for Erickson Lumber, he built a home for his young family.  Vic would modify and expand his hand-built craftsman home over time to accommodate a family of five children and the lives of Vic and Kathy.

Not long after the home was built Vic and Kathy welcomed their second child, Brenda. Vic found an opportunity open at Colmac, where he worked in the plating plant until 1969, applying chrome and maintaining the plating chemicals.

In 1969, Vic and Kathy celebrated the birth of their third child, Daniel.  That year Vic’s father suggested that Vic join him in a new business of their own, Vanhorn & Watson.  The plan was to make survey stakes and sell survey supplies.

By the time Vic and Kathy’s fourth child Dean was born, the business was going well.  Vic was working more than ever, but he was building Vanhorn & Watson into a successful business.

As 1976 brought their fifth child Christina, Vic and Kathy were enjoying the fruits of a successful business, active family life, membership in church, wonderful summer vacations, touching birthdays, generous Christmastimes, support of all their children’s school activities and so many goals exceeded.

Throughout the following decades Vic was always an example of all the best qualities in a man: unsurpassed positivity, incredible work ethic, brave patriotism, selfless generosity and true Christian kindness.

While it is an extremely difficult time for those that love Vic, it is a blessing to know that he has reunited with his beloved sweetheart, Kathy.

Vic is survived by his devoted children Shiela Jenkins, Brenda Kramer, Daniel Vanhorn, Dean Vanhorn, Christina Moore and his cherished grand-daughter Kathleen Vanhorn.  Vic is also survived by a caring extended family: Shiela Jenkin's husband Jason, Brenda Kramer’s beau Gene Malanocoski, Christina Moore's husband David and his grand-daughter Kathleen's husband Charles Kyle, Niece Jewel Stange and her husband Jason, as well as many cousins and friends.

Amen