Major Michael Arvid Korhonen

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Major Michael Arvid Korhonen, retired Alaska State Trooper of Chehalis, Wash., passed away April 30, 2016, at Providence Centralia Hospital, due to complications from lung cancer.   He was born Nov. 21, 1942, in Juneau, Alaska to Mike and Virginia Korhonen.

Mike graduated from Juneau-Douglas High School, class of 1961. He married his wife, Evelyn, in Juneau March 9, 1962.  

Mike started his career in law enforcement  after high school.  He joined the Juneau Police Department as a cadet in 1961, then the Alaska State Troopers in 1964. He retired from the Alaska State Troopers, as a major in 1987. He was the fourth recipient of the  Lifetime Achievement Award from The Fraternal Order of Alaska State Troopers in 2014.  He was stationed in Anchorage, Bethel, Juneau and Sitka, where he was with the State Trooper Academy for 12 years and Academy Commander for the last few years.

Mike was a member and former director of the American Dairy Goat Association,  the Blue Knights International Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club, Fraternal Order of Alaska State Troopers and Eagles.

He also spent many years in Micronesia, as officer in charge of police training  Mike  also worked on contract with Intoximeter doing breathalyzer training.  

He was preceded in death by his parents, Mike and Virginia Korhonen; and brother, Kenneth.

He leaves behind his wife of 54 years, Evelyn; daughter, Kimberley of Chicago; son, Michael and wife Darcy and granddaughter, Lily the apple of his eye of Seattle; brother, Allen Korhonen and wife Laddene of Caldwell, Idaho; sister, Sue Turner and husband, Art of Yelm, Wash.;  numerous nieces and nephews; and an abundance of friends.

A celebration of life will be scheduled later this summer.