Kenneth Dale Carpenter

October 15, 2022. Opening Day of Hunting Season, at sunrise, Kenneth Dale Carpenter, known by all as Ken, went on The Final Hunt. It was a fitting day for a lifelong avid hunter, though given the choice he would have chosen after the season. Ken was born on January 16, 1952, to Dale and Charlotte (Staffanson) Carpenter. They lived on a small dairy farm 2 miles west of Tampico, WA, for the first six years of his life where his love of hunting began. The family then moved to Yakima where he went to school through 8th grade. He attended Selah High School and there made wonderful friendships, dabbled at his schoolwork, played baseball and basketball and met his future wife Lynee Beebe when she asked him to a dance. Ken graduated in 1970 and headed for WSU leaving the young girl behind. But she was in love and promised to put him through law school---so they were married on August 17, 1973. He graduated from WSU in 1974 and began law school at the University of Idaho where he and Chuck Brown began a friendship immersed in grueling legalese and long nights of study. He graduated from there in May 1977. During his time in law school he applied for the intern position at the Whitman County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. For the interview he bought a plaid suit with a clip-on tie to complete the look. At that time, Ken did not know how to tie a tie -- that’s not something you learn at WSU! The interview was going well. The prosecutor looked down at some notes and Ken’s clip-on tie jumped off his throat. Ken says he made an awesome catch, thanks to his days as a baseball player, and slipped the tie in his jacket pocket as the prosecutor looked back up, somewhat puzzled but not sure why. Ken greatly enjoyed the job and had good stories of State Patrol high speed chases, DWIs and crazy students. But he preferred a quieter legal practice. Fresh out of law school he was hired by Underwood, Campbell Brock & Cerruti…where his 42 years as a lawyer began. The firm name changed but he stayed stalwart and in 2011 became lead partner in Carpenter, McGuire & DeWulf where he oversaw the building and remodeling of 4 offices, a new merger and office in Colfax, and at times establishing a Spokane office in his hospital room during battles with cancer. Rusty McGuire and Mark DeWulf were the little brothers he never had. All of his office staff were very special to him.

Ken was president of Inland Chapter of Safari Club International, served on the boards of Lincoln Hospital Foundation, Davenport Retirement Village, Foundation for Davenport schools and Chamber of Commerce President, a Session member of the Presbyterian church. He coached teams and was a mentor to so many whether he meant to be or not.

Ken’s life wasn’t all work and no play. In his early years he hunted with his dad and had many misadventures hunting, playing baseball and being in Cub Scouts with Mike Beeghly his ‘big brother.’ Every hunting season he hunted deer in Lincoln County and elk in the wilds of north Idaho with Todd King and Jack Miller. He fished numerous times in Alaska with Bob Martin, Gary Reinbold and Alan Knott, one year taking his oldest daughter Kyra for her high school graduation trip (and yes, she loves to fish). He had the wonderful opportunity to go to Africa two times with John MacDonald and Marshall Thompson, the second time taking his youngest daughter Kortney—who surprised everyone with her shooting prowess. He loved hunting or checking things out with Big Ken Johannsen and Montana adventures with Jim Carroll. At the family cabin the girls learned about wildlife and to hike and fish. There were always adventures with boats, horses, wild animals and wild daughters. His most notable quote to Kortney and friends was “If the rope breaks…..” There was always a lesson to learn and he was a great teacher to his daughters, their friends, nieces and nephews. He was known at the Beebes’ Camp Werthehec-Ahwe for doing any activity, however crazy, from being the rapper Pit Bull or teaching an art lesson as Bob Ross; except for crafts; he drew the line at beaded things and glue and feathers. He was father to a Davenport princess and built and drove the float while taking the rest of the royalty under his wing and making them laugh.

Ken loved his daughters unconditionally—but always honestly and lovingly giving guidance that gave him a doctor and a CPA of which he was extremely proud. Their successes were his too. He coached baseball and basketball in the younger days and followed them to State championships in volleyball, track and softball. During volleyball he would hike 5 miles out of elk camp, drive 2 hours, see the game, then repeat the process in the dark. But little did he know that their greatest accomplishments were the 4 grandchildren he has been blessed with. Being Grumpa was love that knows no end.

The last 11 years Ken battled cancer 3 times enduring chemo, a broken back with replacement parts, a stemcell transplant and lastly an experimental CAR T-cell transplant that was successful in killing the cancer for good in 2019. However, that all takes a toll on the lungs and heart resulting in 5 bouts with pneumonia the past 3 years—this last time teaming up to be too much to battle.

His parents predeceased him. Ken is survived by his wife of 49 years Lynee; his daughter Kyra (Kyle) Skalisky with grandsons Wylder and Kolt; daughter Kortney (Aaron) Todd and granddaughters Reklynn and another precious baby girl due in April. His sister Kay (Walt) Dinkla and 2 nieces Kara and Katrina live in Florida. The Beebe family into which he married adopted him with open arms: Jayne, Colton(Vicki) and Shaun (Courtney) Beebe, and nieces/nephews Jayne-Leigh, Joe, Cody, Cassidy and Blythe. He loved them as his own.

The family asks that if you wish to do something in remembrance, please consider: Hunting with Heroes PO Box 51736 Casper WY 82605; Inland NW Rail Museum PO Box 471 Reardan WA 99029; or the Lincoln County Museum PO Box 585 Davenport WA 99122.

A private celebration of life will be held at a later date. He had so many friends and acquaintances. If you are a hunter dedicate your hunt to him and everyone please raise a toast in remembrance. If you have stories/memories, the family would appreciate your writing them down and mailing to PO Box 546 Davenport WA 99122. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.stratefuneral.com for the Carpenter family. STRATE FUNERAL HOME, DAVNPORT, WA is caring for the family.