Randy Riffe

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 Randy Riffe, 66, passed away December 10, 2016 at the University of Illinois/Chicago Medical Center, with his wife Patricia and their son Aaron by his side.  He had battled pancreatic cancer since August 2015. He battled non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma four times beginning in 1981 and in 1988 was only the fifth lymphoma patient to have a bone marrow transplant at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in an attempt at a cure.  His lymphoma had been in remission since 2004.

Born in Chehalis January 31, 1950 to Quentin and Genevieve Riffe, he and his wife moved to Chicago in 2014 to be close to their only child, having lived in Mill Creek WA for 32 years.

Randy was a standout wrestler – one of Harry’s Boys - at WF West High School, graduating in 1968.  He attended both Centralia College and University of Puget Sound on wrestling scholarships, graduating with departmental honors from UPS December 1972.  He was invited to join Phi Beta Kappa upon graduation and was one of only two members of his class recruited by Big 8 Accounting firms.  He joined Ernst & Ernst, now Ernst & Young, at their Tacoma office. After a stint at Yergen & Meyer CPAs, Chehalis, he went into banking, eventually moving to the Seattle area.  

An entrepreneur in spirit, he was instrumental in bringing the first locally owned savings and loan to Lynnwood WA where he developed the concept of “grocery store branches,” started two mortgage banking companies, acted as an organizational manager for a wide variety of businesses, and developed a software package for mortgage professionals.  He was a founding board member of the Stevens Hospital Foundation, now part of Swedish Hospital, in Edmonds WA.  Most recently he was tutoring college students, both at the undergrad and MBA levels, and CPA candidates.  

Randy was a great grandson of pioneers Floyd and Armeda (Blankenship) Riffe, founders of the town of Riffe WA and for whom Riffe Lake is named.

Randy joined the Washington National Guard September 1969 and served for nine years.  He received his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant August 1972 after attending Officer Candidate School at Camp Murray WA.  

Randy married Patricia Haunreiter December 1970.  Married nearly 46 years, they were also partners in their businesses.  Their son Aaron played an active role from an early age as well. Randy loved to travel, enjoy Aaron’s barbequed chicken, listen to books, discuss American history, make people laugh, watch the same favorite movies over and over, mentor and teach his students and employees, drink fine and cheap wine, and find great spots to eat.  He was a SCUBA diver early on in Puget Sound and Hood Canal but it was the warm waters of the Caribbean, the Atlantic off Florida, and the Pacific off Hawaii that called his name.  He and his son walked the Great Wall of China in an epic visit to Asia. The family had travelled together to most of the 50 states.  Randy was a Seahawks’ fan from the get go but he will also be remembered as a New York Yankees’ fan from the age of eight.

Randy is survived by his wife, Patricia, at home in Chicago, and their son, Aaron, also of Chicago. He leaves three brothers and their wives, one sister and her husband, two sisters in law and two brothers in law, five nephews, six nieces, four great nephews and four great nieces, two aunts, one godson, and many cousins and friends.  He was preceded in death by his parents, his grandmother Gladys Rushton, his sister Madeline, and his nephew Peter.

A celebration in Randy’s honor is planned for January 28, 2017 from 1 to 5pm at VR Lee Community Building, Chehalis.  Family and friends are invited to attend.

Cremation took place in Chicago under the direction of Gibbons Family Funeral Home with interment at Claquato Cemetery Chehalis to be at a later date. Remembrances are suggested to the Fred & Virginia Haunreiter Nursing Scholarship, Chehalis School District, 310 16th St, Chehalis WA  98532.