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Sadie Rose Ann Wozney — a community announcement published by the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville and Stevens County. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Births Sadie Rose Ann Wozney Sadie Rose Ann Wozney was born on Jan. 2, 2026, to parents Emily and Nicolas Wozney of Chewleah, Wash. She weighed 8 pounds at birth. Her maternal grandparents are David C. Baskin and Cynthia A. Baskin of Colville, Wash. Her paternal grandparents are Joel and Kimberley Wozney of Didsbury, Alberta, Canada. Her maternal great-grandparents are William and Susan Oswald of Chesaw, Wash. and Curtis and Alice Baskin of Spokane, Wash., deceased. Her paternal great-grandparents are Frank Wozney and Catherin Guillemaud, deceased, and John Foster and Deborah Courtney, deceased. Previous Next LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Five Local Brothers That Served in Vietnam to be Recognized With Quilts, Aug. 17 - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Five Local Brothers That Served in Vietnam to be Recognized With Quilts, Aug. 17 August 14, 2024 By: Meredith Carroll Allen Thueringer present day, looking at his scrapbooks from the war. Five brothers who served in the Vietnam War and returned home safely will be honored in a ceremony hosted by Cuppa Tea Quilting and the Quilts of Valor Foundation on Saturday, August 17, in Priest River, ID. Allen Thueringer of Colville is one of those brothers. “All of us brothers enlisted in the Army instead of waiting for the draft to take us,” Thueringer said. Thomas was the first brother to join the Army, enlisting in 1964; he received an Army Commendation Medal for Outstanding Service. James followed suit and went to Vietnam in 1965, serving as a helicopter mechanic. Then, Stephen served three tours in Vietnam and was awarded the Bronze Star and an Army Commendation Medal. Terry and Allen both joined the Army in 1970; Terry was in Army Communications and Allen, the youngest brother, served as an artillery gunner. The unique history of the five Thueringer brothers caught the attention of the Quilts of Valor Foundation, a national organization dedicated to honoring U.S. veterans and helping them to heal. Founded in 2003 by Catherine Roberts, quilts are designed and hand-made by volunteers. The quilt is then awarded to a selected veteran to thank them for their service, sacrifice, and valor in serving the nation, according to the Quilts of Valor website, www.qovf.org. “In order to be awarded a quilt, a veteran must first be nominated,” explained Theresa Wright of Cuppa Tea Quilting in Newport, WA. Cuppa Tea Quilting is the local sponsor for the Quilts of Valor Foundation and will be hosting the ceremony to honor the five Thueringer brothers. “All of the brothers will be honored. Tom, Jim, and Stephen will be awarded quilts,” said Wright. “Terry and Allen will bring the quilts that they have previously been awarded.” Wright also said that the ceremony will include the presentation of each soldier’s history and the honoring of fallen soldiers, along with a performance of Taps. “It’s been at least 15 years since all of us (brothers) have been together,” said Allen Thueringer. “We will all be united at the ceremony.” Thueringer served in Vietnam from 1971 to 1972. He had just turned 20 and quickly moved up in rank. “I outranked them all, and I was the youngest. No one wanted to take orders from a punk kid like me, so I didn’t tell anyone my age.” Thueringer earned the rank of E5 by the time he was discharged. “I was in the 2 nd Battalion 94 th Artillery,” said Thueringer as he flipped through a scrapbook of photos taken during his service. “I loaded rounds, but I was also the guy with the phone. I was the one taking instructions on where to fire the round.” Thueringer’s gun was a M107 self-propelled weapon that fired 175mm rounds from an 8-inch barrel. The rounds weighed 145 pounds and had a range of 21 miles. The use of this gun required a 13-member crew and claimed one of the longest ranges of any mobile artillery unit. “I fired the last heavy round in Vietnam, on April 9 th , 1972, at 2400 hours,” he said. “We painted that last round, fired it, and that was the last one ever fired,” Thueringer said. He was awarded his quilt on April 24 th of this year, and he thought it would be a great honor to have all of the brothers unite for the upcoming ceremony. “It’s rare enough to have five brothers serving in the same war. But it’s amazing that we all came back.” The ceremony will be held at the Priest River Community Church at 49 Washington Street, Priest River, ID 83856, and begins at 1:00 p.m. More information on the event can be found at www.qovf.org . Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

WDFW Deputy Director Approved Lethal Removal of Sherman Pack Wolf - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES WDFW Deputy Director Approved Lethal Removal of Sherman Pack Wolf October 15, 2025 By: Staff Report Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) deputy director Amy Windrope, delegated to make wolf management decisions while WDFW Director Kelly Susewind is out of office, has authorized the lethal removal of one wolf from the Sherman wolf pack territory in Ferry County, in response to repeated livestock depredations. This authorization expires on Oct. 15. According to WDFW, Windrope’s decision is consistent with the guidance of the state's Wolf Conservation and Management Plan and the lethal removal provisions of the department's 2020 Wolf-Livestock Interaction Protocol. WDFW officials stated that the rationale for authorizing lethal removal of one Sherman pack wolf is as follows: WDFW investigated two injured calves with confirmed depredation by wolves from this pack on Sept. 28 and Oct. 1. These two recent events resulted in a total of six depredation events within the last 10 months affecting seven livestock. Following the lethal removal of one wolf from the Sherman pack territory in August, the depredating behavior of the pack did not change. There would be continued overlap between the cattle and Sherman pack wolves through November, with some likelihood of conflict. Lethal removal of one wolf from the Sherman pack will not jeopardize wolf recovery in the eastern Washington recovery zone or statewide. WDFW officials stated that the affected livestock producer reported proactive nonlethal deterrents including near-daily range riding and human presence by the producer and ranch assistants; calving away from known wolf activity centers; removal or treatment of sick or injured livestock from pastures in areas where wolves are present ; and delayed turnout until calving is finished and calves weigh 200 pounds or more. WDFW reported that the producer was removing livestock carcasses when feasible on Sept. 30. The agency also noted concerns about inconsistencies in carcass sanitation and whether it should be considered an acceptable nonlethal deterrent in this scenario. Given the reported human presence and range riding efforts, WDFW staff said they do not believe there are any additional reactive non-lethal deterrents appropriate for this situation. WDFW officials said they will provide a final report on this and any other lethal removal actions during 2025 in the Washington Gray Wolf Conservation and Management 2025 Annual Report, due out in the spring of 2026. Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Hunter Eugene Beaufils — a community announcement published by the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville and Stevens County. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Births Hunter Eugene Beaufils Hunter Eugene Beaufils was born on June 18, 2025, to parents Bobby Hubbs and Andrew Beaufils of Colville, Wash. He weighed 7 pounds, 8 ounces at birth. He has two brothers, Akoda, 16, and Harley, 13, and one sister, Ahnaley, 11. His maternal grandparents are Regenia Hubbs of Springdale, Wash., and Paul Hubbs of Loon Lake, Wash. His paternal grandparents are LaDina Beaufils of Colville, Wash., and Michael Beaufils, deceased. Previous Next LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Statesman-Examiner Launches New Website - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Statesman-Examiner Launches New Website January 14, 2026 By: Staff Report The Statesman-Examiner launched its new website over the weekend at www.statesmanexaminer.com . Since acquiring the Statesman-Examiner, The Sun and the Deer Park Tribune less than two years ago, the focus has been on strengthening the print editions, where most readers prefer to access the newspapers, said owner and publisher Gabriel Cruden. “Now, we are expanding our scope to include strengthening our online presence,” Cruden said. The website, designed by local resident Amber King, is structured to resemble the print edition, while offering multiple access points to newspaper content, Cruden said. “We hope it is user-friendly and intuitive for visitors to find what they are looking for and to understand how to contact us through the most efficient channels,” Cruden said. “Amber did a great job taking the core concepts and building additional features on her own initiative, including an ad cost estimator and a really cool history of the newspaper page.” Cruden noted that there may be adjustments to make as the site is used and encouraged readers to share feedback. He also said that not all print content appears online. “We want to balance our role as a central hub for news and information for Stevens County and eastern Ferry County while maintaining the value of a print or digital subscription,” Cruden said. “For that reason, the website only includes a sampling of our large line-up of weekly content.” He said the website includes classifieds, legal notices, obituaries, announcements, letters to the editor, an events calendar, the Professional Service Directory, local business advertisements, selected local news and sports stories, and all breaking news, as well as fire alerts, school closures, road closures, and public safety information. Not included, according to Cruden, are some articles, select advertisements, local business inserts, and the games and comics page. Cruden also noted that advertising on the website is limited to local businesses. “There are no out-of-area ads all over the site and in your face,” Cruden said. “Like our news reporting, everything is local, as it should be.” Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Susan Ann Smith | obituary published by the Statesman-Examiner in Colville, Washington. Susan Ann Smith 80 Oct 2, 1945 - Jan 6, 2026 Sue Smith, age 80, passed away January 6, 2026, in Kettle Falls, Washington. Sue was born on October 2, 1945, in Astoria, Oregon, to Wayne and Helen Hill. After a short time in Astoria, the family moved to Farragut, Idaho, before settling in Moscow, Idaho, where Sue would grow up and graduate from Moscow High School in 1964. At the tender age of 13, Sue would say she met the love of her life, Rod Smith. Rod was two years ahead of her in school, and as the story goes, he captured her heart that day, and they began dating 3 years later, in the Fall of 1962. After receiving their associate degrees, they married in 1966 in Moscow. After brief stops in Spokane and Hawaii, they bought their first home in Yakima and welcomed their daughter, Cindy, in 1972. 1976 brought their final move, and Kettle Falls, Washington, became their forever home, where they would live for nearly 50 years. Rod, Sue, and their daughter made a lifetime of beautiful memories amongst friends in Kettle Falls. They recently celebrated Sue’s 80th birthday and 59 years of marriage in October of 2025, with a special trip to the Oregon Coast, accompanied by Cindy. Sue lived to love. She found great joy in bringing people together and making everyone feel welcome. She used her phenomenal talents in the kitchen to create amazing meals and baked goods. Breaking bread and sharing stories with those she cared about was part of a long, rich tradition she and her family shared. Sue was always the first to make sure that others had what they needed and were cared for. She took great pride in making foods and desserts that her family and friends loved. Rarely did a day go by that Rod did not have special, homemade sweet treats waiting for him (usually chocolate)! Sue had a large and cherished collection of handwritten recipes and cookbooks, and spent hours poring over them, making notes along the way. She read many of her favorites, cover to cover! Sue was incredibly proud of the home she created over the years and had a true flair for all things creative. From decorating and baking to needlework and floral arranging, her home was a beautiful representation of the life and love she cultivated within its walls. Holidays were Sue’s favorite, and Christmas was the highlight of the year. She adored the decorations that she had collected over the years, many from family generations before that held special meaning. She took extra pride in her numerous decorated trees, spectacular winter village, and snow globe collection. She would start her long list of Christmas baking the day after Thanksgiving – making sure everyone got “their favorites” … and then some! Although she adored the hustle and bustle of Christmas, she never lost sight of the true meaning of the season. From a very early age, Sue was spiritually led and found the beauty in God’s creations every day. Sue never met a stranger and had a notable way of connecting with people and putting those she visited at ease. She built countless relationships simply because of her genuine, heartfelt interest and inviting nature. When she asked, “How are you doing?” she sincerely wanted to know. Sue loved life and cherished simple blessings. She found great joy in beautiful sunsets, going to the cabin, getting her nails done, spending time at the ocean, taking drives, taking their 1940 Ford pick-up to car shows and parades, and hand-dipped corn dogs with mustard (they had to be hand-dipped) …but what she loved most was simply being with her family. She loved us in the best ways possible, was our biggest cheerleader, and a constant supporter. She treasured every moment with her family and never missed a chance to say how blessed she was by us. Without a doubt, her favorite place to do so was at the family cabin on the St. Joe River. Sue is preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband, Rod; daughter, Cindy, and son-in-law, Chris Schneider; grandchildren, Jack and Kate Schneider; and brother, Mike Hill and family. A memorial service and reception will be held on Thursday, February 5, at 1 pm at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Colville, Washington. Sue will be laid to rest in Moscow, Idaho, at a later date. Danekas Funeral Chapel & Crematory has been entrusted with her care, and online condolences may be made at www.danekasfuneralchapel.com . Previous Item Next Item

Lyla Ann Ackerson — a community announcement published by the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville and Stevens County. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Births Lyla Ann Ackerson Lyla Ann Ackerson was born on Oct. 2, 2025, to parents Savannah and Cody Ackerson of Colville, Wash. She weighed 8 pounds, 4 ounces at birth, and has one brother, Miles, age 2. Her maternal grandparents are Roxy and Ron Boone of Spokane, Wash. Her paternal grandparents are Mo O’Fearna and Brett Vanderhoof of Bullhead City, Ariz., and Gary Ackerson of San Remigio, Cebu, Philippines. Previous Next LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Lady Crimson Hawks Downs St. Georges and Newport - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Lady Crimson Hawks Downs St. Georges and Newport December 10, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen Colville girls basketball opened the season largely like it did last year, with wins over St. George’s and Newport, followed by a loss to Northwest Christian. That’s promising, as last year’s Crimson Hawk team won six league games and 14 total. The season started in Colville on Dec. 2, with the Crimson Hawks blasting the Dragons 56-26. Jumping out to a 10-2 lead in the first quarter, Colville cruised in the middle quarters and finished the game on an 18-6 run. Andee Kroiss led the team with 18 points off nine field goals, while Kubesh notched 11 points off five field goals. Colville made the free-throw line on a rare occasion and did the bulk of their scoring off 26 field goals. Georgia Beardslee added eight points to the total. They followed that up with a road game on Friday, Dec. 5, where they took down Newport 54-18 and held the Lady Grizzlies to just three points total in the second and third quarters. Kroiss led the team with 16 points, and Brisby added 10 points. Beardslee also scored eight points. The Crimson Hawks traveled to Northwest Christian on Dec. 6, and suffered their first defeat against the defending State 2B Champions, 61-22. Brisby led the team with six points, while Kroiss and Beardslee added four points. The Lady Hawks are scheduled to host Reardan on Wednesday, Dec. 10, at 7:15 p.m., followed by Chelan on Saturday, Dec. 13, at 4 p.m. Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Northport Girls Basketball Wins Two Games Against 1A Schools - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Northport Girls Basketball Wins Two Games Against 1A Schools January 7, 2026 By: Brandon Hansen The Northport girls' basketball team posted a strong showing at the Eagle Holiday Classic, earning back-to-back nonleague wins over 1A opponents to improve to 7-3 overall. Northport capped the tournament with a 36-23 victory over the Newport Grizzlies on Dec. 30 at West Valley High School. The Mustangs held Newport to just seven points over the final two quarters. Kate Beardslee led Northport with 16 points, while Kylie Colton added nine and Persephonie St. Marie chipped in seven points. The Mustangs kept Newport from scoring in the opening quarter and limited the Grizzlies to just eight made field goals in the game. Northport opened tournament play on Dec. 29, with a convincing 54-33 win over the Riverside Rams. The Mustangs galloped out to a 17-4 first-quarter lead and maintained control throughout the contest. Colton delivered a standout performance, scoring 20 points and knocking down four 3-pointers, while Beardslee added 18 points before fouling out. Northport built a 35-14 halftime lead and never allowed Riverside to threaten their dominant position. With the two higher classification wins, Northport will now move into a schedule against like-sized schools. The Lady Mustangs will host Nespelem on Friday, Jan. 9, at 6 p.m. and then play at Selkirk on Saturday, Jan. 10, at 3 p.m. Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Crimson Hawks Surge Past Chelan, Split Busy Week - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Crimson Hawks Surge Past Chelan, Split Busy Week December 17, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen Ava Kelley puts the ball up for Colville during their nonleague game against Reardan. Colville stayed closed for most of the game, and Kelley led the scorers with nine points. Photo by Brandon Hansen. A dominant third quarter lifted the Colville girls basketball team to a convincing 49-27 home win over Chelan on Saturday, Dec. 13, allowing the Crimson Hawks to finish the week on a strong note after a midweek loss. Colville, now 3-3 overall, used a balanced scoring attack and defensive pressure to break open a close game at halftime. After leading 17-13 at the break, the Crimson Hawks exploded for 22 points in the third quarter, holding Chelan to just five and seizing full control of the contest. Georgia Beardslee and Rylee Brisby each scored 10 points to lead Colville, while Kelsea Lewis added nine. Ava Kelley chipped in seven points and Andee Kroiss finished with six points as Colville spread the scoring across the lineup. The win followed a 59-36 nonleague loss to Reardan on Wednesday, Dec. 10, a game in which the Crimson Hawks faced a Div. 1 athlete in Screaming Eagles’ guard Tenice Waters. The score doesn’t tell the whole story as Colville battled with Waters and company for three quarters, giving as much as they took in physical play. Reardan built a 29-21 halftime lead that wasn’t an easy feat by any stretch. The Eagles were able to pull away late behind Waters' 21 points. Colville was led by Kelley’s nine points, with Kroiss scoring eight and Beardslee and Kubesh adding seven points apiece. Foul trouble played a role in the outcome, with both Kroiss and Beardslee fouled out. The team faced Bonners Ferry on Tuesday, Dec. 16; game results were not available at press time. The Lady Hawks are scheduled to travel to Tonasket on Friday, Dec. 19, for a game at 6 p.m. Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Share your happy news with the community! Submit your baby’s birth announcement for publication in our newspaper. Submit Your Birth Announcement Please complete the form below to share your happy news with our readers. Fill out all required fields marked with an asterisk (*) Double-check the spelling of names, dates, and locations Include any special details you’d like to share (optional) Once submitted, our editorial team will review your announcement before publishing Birth Announcement Form Baby’s Information * Baby’s Full Name If not yet named, allow “Baby Girl/Boy [Last Name]”. * Date of Birth Month Day Year * Place of Birth Include facility, City, and State. Birth Weight Example: 7 lb 10 oz Boy or Girl? Boy Girl Prefer not to Say Parents’ Information * Mother's Name * Father's Name * City and State * Zip Code Additional Family (optional but useful for print) Names and Ages of Siblings One per line. Example: James (11), Janet (4) Grandparents’ Names and Locations One per line; include city/state. Great-Grandparents’ Names and Locations One per line; include city/state. Photo Photo Submission Method Mailing photo Attach via form Not sending photo Contact Information * First name * Last name * Phone * Email Submit

Arnold H. Bocker (Arnie) | obituary published by the Statesman-Examiner in Colville, Washington. Arnold H. Bocker (Arnie) 88 - Oct 13, 2025 Arnold H. Bocker (Arnie) passed away peacefully on Oct. 13, 2025, with his daughter and family members at his side. He was 88 years old. Born in Sioux Falls, S.D., to Hazel and John Bocker, Arnie spent his early years in the Midwest before the family relocated to Maple Valley, Wash. In 1955, he married Sharrin Marnes, and together they had two sons, Karl and Mike. Though their marriage came to a close, the time they spent together remained an important chapter in Arnold's life. In 1957, Arnie married Elizabeth Warner, and together they had four children: Scott, Julie, Brian – who passed away shortly after birth – and Valerie. In 1967, Arnie purchased a farm in Addy, Wash., where he spent the majority of his life farming wheat, oats, and alfalfa, and operating a dairy farm. He also drove a semi-truck for several years, embodying the hardworking spirit that defined him. In 2003, Arnie faced the heartbreaking loss of his beloved wife Elizabeth to cancer. Soon after, he sold the farm and entered retirement. He eventually moved to Arizona, where he remarried, Lila Pruyne, and embraced a new chapter of life. In retirement, Arnie found joy in golfing and traveling the country in his RV – exploring new places and meeting new people – always with a sense of adventure and appreciation for life's simple pleasures. In 2020, due to the pandemic, Arnie decided to move to New Smyrna Beach, Fla., to be closer to his daughter and grandchildren. Arnie was known for his steadfast work ethic and love for his family. He was preceded in death by his wife Elizabeth; sons Brian, Mike, and Scott; daughter Julie; and grandson Dustin. He is survived by son Karl Shoemaker and daughter-in-law Carol; daughter Valerie Peterson and son-in-law David; grandchildren: Katie, Ashley, Colten, Angela, Jamie, Tandy, Andrew, Steven, and Michael; and great-grandchildren: Jaedon, Kloe, Hunter, Lola, Taylor, Chase, Henry, Walter, Mia, Ava, Jacob, Matthew, and Thomas. Per Arnie's request, there will be no formal services. In remembrance of him, he asks that you commit a random act of kindness – a gesture that reflects the quiet generosity and compassion he carried throughout his life. Previous Item Next Item