Lawrence Russel ‘Dutch’ Kuykendall

Lawrence Russel “Dutch” Kuykendall, an 81-year resident of Clarkston, went to be with his Lord, Saturday, April 13, 2024, at the age of 104. Dutch was born Jan. 9, 1920, in Leland to Elbert and Leatha Kuykendall. He was raised in Kendrick then attended Weiser Vocational School to become a welder. He met his future wife, Lissa LaVerne “Jo” Hayhurst there and married April 19, 1941, in Boise.

Dutch joined the U.S. Navy in 1945, and served with the SeaBees in the Philippines during World War II. He worked as a welder for Potlatch Forests Inc. and Lewiston Truck and Tractor (Crocker Trucking) before opening Dutch’s Welding Shop on 15th and Maple in 1960. During his welding career he worked on natural gas lines that span the Snake River and lines from the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley to Spokane.

Hunting and fishing were his favorite hobbies and he was a member of the Moose Lodge and Veterans of Foreign Wars in Clarkston. He was also a member of the Hells Canyon and Wenaha Muzzleloader clubs. Dutch and Jo played with a cribbage club and he enjoyed gardening, woodworking and lapidary. There were many camping trips and picnics with other families while they raised their four children. Birthdays and holidays were unforgettable celebrations.

Dutch’s advice to younger generations was “take every day the way it comes and make the most of it,” which he certainly did. We will miss our dad, having been blessed to enjoy him for so many years, but we do not mourn his passing. Dutch asked Jesus into his heart two months before his 100th birthday. We know where he and our mom are and believe John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him, shall not perish but have everlasting life.”

Dutch was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers- Jim, Stan and Don Kuykendall and his loving wife in October of 2020. He is survived by his four children, Larry Kuykendall of Portland, Ore., Linda (Dallas) Fast of Centralia, Wash., Carol Walters of Albany, Ore. and John (Sally) Kuykendall of Gresham, Ore.; nine grandchildren, Michelle (Gavin) Collins of Portland, Mark (Lori) Fast of Vancouver, Wash., Melinda Thomas of Gresham, Holly (Martin) Prochazka of Oregon City, Ore., BJ (Elaine) Kuykendall of Centralia, Joel (Alison) Kuykendall of Nampa, Tiffany (Sanjai) Tripathi of Corvallis, Ore., Adam Kuykendall of Portland, and Amber (Ryan) Mitchell of Mason, Ohio. Dutch and Jo were blessed with 25 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life service will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 8, at the First Church of God, 910 Sycamore St, Clarkston, where any memorial gifts may be made.

Our deep gratitude goes to his angel caregiver, Audrey Felkins, his “best neighbor,” Lenny Frasure, Clarkston Health and Rehabilitation of Cascadia and the staff at Evergreen Estates where he was lovingly cared for since June 2016.