Deral Duane Boleneus

April 1, 1934 – December 6, 2024

Deral Duane Boleneus, born on April 1, 1934, in Spokane, Washington, passed away at the age of 90 on December 6, 2024. He was preceded in death by his parents, Alice Reinbold Boleneus and Lewis F. Boleneus, his stepfather, Walter P. Nelson, and his brother, Lyle F. Boleneus. He was also preceded in death by his two beloved wives, Marilyn Guhlke Boleneus and Ardell Denison Beardslee Boleneus, to whom he was married for 32 years each.

Deral is survived by his children, Jennie Boleneus Wagner and Peter Boleneus and his wife Mary; his stepdaughters, Brenda Beardslee Kovach, Glenda Beardslee Dashiell, and Renda Beardslee Boshear; his grandchildren, JoLynn Wagner Ray and husband Brad, Ian Wagner and wife Rychelle, Parker Boleneus and wife Lauren, and Raegan Boleneus and fiancé’ Seth West; step grandchildren Tonya Dashiell, Christy Dashiell Traeger, Isaiah Enquist, Alyssa Boshear, Emily Boshear Shull, Ashley Kovach Czarnecki, Brittney Kovach Aguila and Rob Kovach as well as many great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

A graduate of Davenport High School (1952), Deral attended Washington State College (now WSU), where he studied agriculture. In 1957, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served at a Nike Missile site in Redmond, Washington, for over three years, earning the rank of E5 before being honorably discharged in 1960. During his military service, he made lifelong friends, many of whom remained close to him throughout his life.

After returning to civilian life, Deral and Marilyn made their home in Reardan, Washington. Deral worked for 32 years in the Cenex Cooperative system, retiring as a district financial supervisor. His dedication to his community extended far beyond his professional life. He served as a volunteer firefighter, a member of the Lions Club, and was often the unofficial snow removal technician during the winter months.

Deral's passion for serving others continued into his retirement years. He was a member of the Lincoln Hospital Board for 50 years and served as a Lincoln County Commissioner for 16 years. He was one of the founders of the Martin Hall Juvenile Detention Center and served as board chairman for many years. He also served on the Lake Roosevelt Forum, working to keep his beloved river safe and productive. Deral also volunteered with Lincoln County Habitat for Humanity for many years and was a devoted supporter of Reardan High School athletics.

In addition to his public service, Deral had a love for real estate investment and enjoyed life at his home on the Spokane River, where he always had a project in progress. One of his greatest accomplishments was maintaining 32 years of sobriety, a testament to his strength and perseverance.

A man of great character, Deral’s life was full of purpose, humor, and generosity. He loved to tell stories and had a laugh that was unforgettable. His legacy of hard work, service, and love of family has been passed on to his children and grandchildren.

A celebration of Deral’s life will be held on Sunday, January 12, 2025, 2-4pm, at the Reardan Presbyterian Church, with a short program at 2pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Lincoln Hospital Foundation, Reardan High School, WeCARE (food bank) in Reardan, or a charity of your choice.

Deral lived a full and productive life, and his memory will be cherished by all who knew him.