Randall (Randy, “Rope”) LeRoy Butenschoen, age 61, of Bellingham, passed away in Bellingham on Monday, Oct. 24, 2016. He was born Jan. 18, 1955 in Bellingham, the fourth child of seven children to parents Henry Clyde and Alice Ann (Stevens) Butenschoen.
Randy graduated from Mt. Baker Jr.-Sr. High School in 1973. He started his university career at Sheldon Jackson College in Sitka, Alaska, and graduated from Western Washington University in 1979. Between Sheldon Jackson and WWU, Randy managed to squeeze in as much fun as he possibly could including taking an epic, often-talked-about, adventure-filled cross-country motorcycle trip with two lifelong friends, Rod Cochran and Jerry Engholm. Randy was not satisfied staying in one place for very long. He loved his freedom and his independence, and he loved the journey. He had many occupations during his journey including working in the oil fields of Texas, gold mining in the Yukon and fishing in the Bering Sea. Randy spent the last several years in beautiful Northeast Washington near good friends Doug and Carrie Drew and his brother Gary and his wife, Lisa. Randy spent as much time as possible living in the outdoors where he hunted, fished, hiked, camped and enjoyed the mountains, rivers, streams and lakes he grew to love.
In February 2015 Randy was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and he decided it was time to come home. For the last 19 months of his life, Randy was surrounded by the love and support of his family and friends as he fought his long, hard, courageous battle against the disease that would claim his life. On one of his last good, bearable days and written in an unsteady hand, Randy wrote, “As I pass, I will not be alone as I walk together with the Lord. I welcome His companionship.”
Randy was preceded in death by brother Gregory Lee Butenschoen, great-niece Scarlett Rayne Sample, paternal grandparents George and Sophia Butenschoen and maternal grandparents Remington and Pearl Stevens.
He is survived by his parents, Henry and Alice; brothers Steven and wife Mary of Bellingham, and Gary and wife Lisa of Moses Lake; sisters Cheryl Brager of Marysville, Karen McKay and husband Scott of Fair Oaks, Pennsylvania, and Marcia Holz and husband Dan of Bellingham; numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and many friends close by and far away.
A memorial service celebrating Randy’s life will be held on Saturday, Nov. 5, at 1 p.m. in Rome Community Bible Church, 2720 Mt. Baker Hwy., Bellingham, WA 98226, with a reception immediately following in the adjacent Fellowship Hall of the church.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to Whatcom Hospice, 2806 Douglas Ave., Bellingham, WA 98225.
Please share your thoughts and memories of Randy online at www.sigsfuneralservices.com.
