APG Skagit Call Center

Rusty Johnson, our favorite guy, (and local legend) passed away on Wednesday, May 11th. This avid hunter and northwest timber slayer rolled into town on July 17th, 1955. After graduating from SWHS in 1973, he joined the Navy and served overseas on the USS Constellation until he was stationed in Iwakuni, Japan. During leave, he met his future wife, Georgann. After being discharged, he grabbed his girl and headed north to Alaska! This is where they married and he discovered his passion for working in the woods. Together, they celebrated 43 years of laughter, friendship, and love. Not one to shy away from a good time, this duo welcomed 3 strapping sons, Josh, Zach, and Caleb and the infamous...

Mary Janice La Flame Proctor died peacefully on May 10, 2022, at Life Care Center of Skagit Valley in Sedro-Woolley, Washington. She was 93 years old. Known as Jan to family and friends, she was born April 16, 1929, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Alonzo La Flame and Jeanette Guilbault. She attended private Catholic schools, including Messmer High School in Milwaukee. Jan was a full charge bookkeeper for much of her life. She also was a proficient pianist and taught piano for many years. Jan was married three times, the first time in 1947 to Milton Heeren in Wisconsin. In 1958, she married William O. Boyd Jr. in Santa Barbara, California, where she helped raise his two sons, William L. and...

Matt Lundstrom passed away on May 6 at Skagit Valley Hospital in Mount Vernon, Washington, with his loved ones by his side. He was 41. Matt was born to Carl and Colleen Lundstrom on Jan. 1, 1981, in Mount Vernon. He was the first New Year's Day baby born in Skagit County that year. Matt spent most of his life in the Skagit Valley area. His first job was as a newspaper carrier for the Skagit Valley Herald. Matt worked as a server in the restaurant business for several years. In January 2020, he found his niche with Safe Haven Security Services, as a sales representative. Matt loved working for Safe Haven and formed many close friendships. He enjoyed making connections with his coworkers and...

Our strong and beautiful son, our light and love and joy is gone. Peter started his life in the apple orchards on Pleasant Ridge near the north fork of the Skagit River. The Skagit and every piece of water around the world would capture his heart and shape his adventurous life. Peter's love of fishing always reflected the belief that a great fishing trip was always as much about the journey as it was about the catch. From the time he could walk, a dip net and a hook pole was as essential as a rod and reel. Peter was a gentle soul who loved all of God's creations from the frogs and cutthroats on the Taku River with his grandpa Pete to the snakes on the corner with the neighborhood kids to...

It is with a heavy heart that we announce Leigh's unexpected passing as a result of a massive brain hemorrhage and several debilitating strokes while on an early 37th anniversary vacation. She leaves behind husband Steve Olson of Mount Vernon, WA; oldest daughter Tessa (James) Flowers of Davenport, WA; second daughter Sadie (David) of Dalles, OR; and third daughter Rachel Olson of Sedro-Woolley, WA; and a total of eight grandkids whom she dearly loved and adored, and one more on the way, whom she was eagerly waiting to meet. She is also survived by her mom, Gert Douma of Lynden, WA; older sister, Jane (Dennis) Buys of Lynden, WA; older brother, Scott Douma of Nooksack, WA; and her special...

Ray was born on November 1, 1932 in Yakima, WA to Jacob and Janie (Baldwin) Stebner. He passed away peacefully at Whatcom Hospice House in Bellingham, WA on April 22, 2022. A proud veteran, Ray served as Captain in the U.S. Air Force from 1954-1958, where he was asked to teach at the academy. He married Jeanne Kanzler on June 13, 1965 in Spokane, WA. They moved to Anacortes, WA in 1974 where he purchased a marina (due to his love of the sea) before returning to teaching. He taught advanced Language Arts at Anacortes Middle School until his retirement in 1993. Ray valued education and was a very learned man. He attended Central Washington University for a Bachelor's degree in Psychology...

Howard Rand Battan, "Randy" passed away peacefully on April 20, 2022, at the age of 81. He was born on June 6th, 1940, in Spokane, Washington. There he met the love of his life Janeen. After graduation with a bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from Gonzaga University, they moved to Kelso, Washington where he began a career with Weyerhauser in pulp and paper research. He worked his entire career of 38 years at Weyerhauser, moving to Federal Way, Washington where he worked at their research facility. The most important part of his life was his family. He and Janeen raised four children together. Throughout his life he enjoyed many hobbies, usually involving building something, from...

Carolyn Cowan passed away peacefully in her sleep at home on April 20, 2022. She was born September 22, 1948 in Shelby, Mississippi to James Clinton and Norma Jean Cowan. As a child, Carolyn and her family moved to Maracaibo, Venezuela where she developed a love for travel and learned to embrace other cultures, reflected in her gypsy personality. Carolyn studied at Rice University before moving west, eventually settling in Concrete, Washington, an area she loved and used as home base for the rest of her life. Carolyn is survived by two sons, Clint and Clay; three grandchildren, Lily, Silas and Rain and siblings Claire, George and James. Her ashes will be spread in Baker River later...

Valerie Renee Olson of Camano Island, WA, born February 10, 1987 lost her battle with mental illness and addiction April 17, 2022. Only 35, she died too soon. Valerie attended Arlington public schools K-12, played piano and flute, ran X-country and played volleyball. Valerie created clothing, exhibiting and modelling in 4H. After graduation in 2005 Valerie earned an AA at Everett Community College where she developed a love for acting and theater. She earned a BFA degree in Fashion Design from the International Academy of Design & Technology. Valerie was kind, creative, and fashionable. She quoted Leonardo da Vinci's "Simplicity is the ultimate Sophistication." She loved designing and...

Danielle Bartek Loy, age 52, passed away in Bellingham, on April 16, 2022. Danielle was born in Seattle, on Oct 08, 1969 to Daniel Bartek and Diane Metcalf Bartek. She was raised in Marysville and attended Marysville Pilchuk High School. She is survived by her husband, Gilbert Loy, her parents, Daniel and Diane, her brother Greg Bartek of Burlington, sister CeCe Sandelin (husband Larry), of Sedro Woolley, her children Jessica McIntyre of Mt. Vernon, Caleb Blankenbaker of Index, Bobby Kamb of Albuquerque, NM, Cecelia Kamb of Everett, as well as six beloved grandchildren and niece Lauren Sandelin-Lewis of California and nephew Ethan Sandelin of Florida. Besides her immediate family, she will...

Captain David Bruce Strong, JAGC, USN-Retired passed away April 8, 2022 at the age of 81. Born October 12, 1940 in Vancouver, BC, he came to the US at the age of 2 weeks. Lately, Dave resided partly at Samish Island, Washington and Peterborough, Ontario. He was raised in the Skagit Valley, graduating in 1958 from Burlington-Edison high school. He earned his bachelor's degree at the University of Washington in 1962, and later his J.D. in 1971. Dave was Active Duty, US Naval Reserve from 1963-1966 and Reserve Duty 1962-1993, where he retired as Captain, Judge Advocate General's Corps. Former Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in Island County, Washington (1971-1975), he practiced law in...

Myrna Margaret Pickens passed into the arms of Jesus on April 5, 2022 at 82. She was the youngest of three daughters, and was born March 13, 1940 to Herman Moore and Agnes (Carlson) Moore in Olympia, WA. Her parents and sisters, Ramona and Norma preceded her in death. Her husband of 45 years, Robert Pickens, preceded her in death in April 2017. Mrs. Pickens, a lifelong resident of Whatcom and Skagit counties, attended Ferndale High School and worked as an Engineering Technical Secretary and Office Manager for the Whatcom County Public Works Department for over 28 years. She was involved in the Whatcom County Dahlia Society, the American Business Women's Association and many other...

Nina Dorsten passed away April 3, 2022 in Mount Vernon, Washington. She was a longtime resident of La Conner. Survived by her loving daughters, Donna Morgan of Denver and Sue Alexander of Mount Vernon. Celebration of her life (and her husband Dick Dorsten's life) will be held at Fir-Conway Lutheran Church, 18101 Fir Island Road, Mount Vernon on Saturday, April 30th at 10:00.

Holli Marie Brawley, 45, of Burlington, Washington died suddenly in her home on March 31,2022. Born January 28, 1977, in Sedro Woolley, Holli lived her whole life in Skagit Valley. She worked as an Electrical Technician for Western Washington University. Here she maintained close relationships with coworkers and looked forward to their runs during the lunch hour. Sometimes getting a drink or going to a show after work. Holli loved to travel, exploring new places, trying new food, listening to live music, and just taking in the atmosphere of the place she was visiting. She enjoyed hiking with friends, looking for agates, going out for drinks or dinner. She loved to get out on her paddle...

Michael Allen Brawley, 47, of Burlington, Washington died suddenly in his home on March 31, 2022. Michael was born January 1, 1975, in Sedro Woolley, the first baby of the New Year in Skagit County. He loved his family and friends more than anything. Michael was especially caring toward children and older adults, making sure they were taken care of. All it took was a phone call and he would drop everything to be at family and friends side when they needed him. Along with being a respected carpenter and builder, he enjoyed helping his kids with various projects. Including helping his oldest son add onto his home. Michael spent a lot time with his father-in-law working in the woodshop....

Barbara Ann (Porter) Long, 89, of Mount Vernon, WA passed away March 29, 2022 in Anacortes, WA. She was born in Tacoma, WA on October 27, 1932 to John Wesley Porter and Evelyn McDonald Porter. Barbara graduated from Sedro Woolley High School in 1950. After moving to Seattle to work, she met and married William S. Long, Jr in 1954. Together they had four daughters and moved to various locations throughout the country for Bill's work with the Boeing Company. After the passing of her husband in 1968, Barbara moved with her daughters back to the Skagit Valley to be near her family. Barbara worked locally at Skagit Valley Hospital for 6 years before moving to Alaska to work as a cook in a...

Gene was born to Norma Bruns and Melvyn Loehr, Sr. He grew up in the Sedro-Woolley area, where he attended school, and made many friends. He worked in many establishments throughout the Skagit Valley as a cook. His happy moments in life were on the Skagit River salmon fishing. His pride and joy was his son Kyle Loehr. Gene was preceded in death by his grandma and grandpa Bruns, his grandma and grandpa Loehr, his mother Norma Bruns-Johnson, step-father Albert Johnson, sister Joann Thompson, nephew Joey Self, and aunt Sandra Loehr. He is survived by his son Kyle Loehr, mother of Kyle and lifetime friend Pamela LaPoint and father Melvyn Loehr, Sr and siblings Julie Bacus and her...

Wayne grew up on a farm in Wisconsin near Lake Michigan where his grandparents and parents, taught him and his siblings to work hard and help others. He learned quickly, to use and repair the farm's machinery, raise and sell the fruit, vegetable and grain crops, and helped mowing on neighbors' properties. Any spare time he read in the barn or walked with his dog along the shores of the lake. From k-8th grades, he walked to a one-room schoolhouse, attended the local High School. Bright, focused and motivated, he saw the career possibilities offered by higher education, and enrolled at the University of Wisconsin where he discovered he had a natural ability in the Computer Science Program,...

Harry Joseph Land died peacefully March 22, 2022 after a long struggle with Alzheimer's disease. He was born in Clear Lake, Washington on May 13, 1930, the first child of Hubert Land and Dolly (nee Gay) Land. He grew up in Clear Lake and attended Sedro Woolley High School, graduating in 1948. In March of 1952 Harry was drafted, and he spent part of 1952 and all of 1953 in Korea. He never talked about his time in Korea, and it was only recently that his family learned that he has been awarded two bronze stars and a good conduct medal for his service there. After being discharged from the military, Harry returned to Clear Lake and soon began his decades long career in the timber industry....