Kenneth W Twitchell

Kenneth Walter Twitchell passed away June 28th at home with his family by his side.  Kenny was born July 4, 1959 in Grangeville, Idaho to MaryEllen (Wilson), and James Orrin Twitchell.

Kenny moved with his family following his father’s work throughout southern Idaho and the southwest attending grade schools in White Bird, Montpelier, and Idaho City.  Then moving to New Mexico, and Colorado, before moving to Coffman Cove, Alaska where he finished Jr. High returning to Kooskia, Idaho where he graduated from Clearwater Valley High School in 1977.

He returned to Coffman Cove, Alaska in 1979 where he worked for R.H. Valentine Logging Company until 1986, and then working for South Coast, Inc. in road construction until 1993 before returning home to Idaho to raise his family.

Ken was an avid outdoorsman enjoying the many attributes of Southeast Alaska including hunting, fishing, hiking and beach combing.  In 1989 he was awarded the Boone and Crocket Alaska Big Game Award for his Sitka black-tailed deer.

After returning home to Idaho in 1993 he worked in various heavy equipment and service positions before starting with WSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 2003 and then later joining WSU Facilities as a lead operator of the Compost Facility where he worked until his retirement in 2021. He and his wife Lauri made their family home in Troy, Idaho in 2005 raising their family, enjoying their horses and raising 4-H animals for a time.

Ken loved and took pride in his family, speaking of them fondly and often to everyone.  He loved holidays together, was the master at Monopoly, enjoyed watching and participating in sports and being outdoors. A committed Boise State football fan, he was never without blue and orange apparel or current athletic updates.

Ken truly enjoyed time on Lake Coeur d’Alene, and spent many happy summers with the family being on the lake, boating and evenings around a campfire.

Kenny will be missed for his true heart and love of family and friends, the family pets, his many stories, his optimism, patience and kindness.

Kenny leaves behind his wife Lauri (Laurilee Kramer) of Troy, daughter Shanel (BJ) Siler of Clarkston, WA son Kyle Twitchell of Lewiston, ID and stepsons Ryan (Kaylee) Druffel of Anchorage, AK, Ty (Emily) Druffel of Lake Stevens, WA, and Zac Druffel of Colton, WA, his sister Teri (Steve) McCoy of Kooskia, ID, and brother Todd (Christine) Twitchell of Fresno, CA, six grandchildren, and one on the way.

He is preceded in death by his parents and older brother James Twitchell.

In lieu of cards and flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society for Small Cell Cancer Research, the Humane Society of the Palouse, and St. Mary’s Church, Moscow, Idaho.

The Rosary will be recited at St. Mary’s Catholic Church at 10:00 a.m. Friday July 8, 2022, with Funeral Mass starting at 10:30. A reception will follow mass at St. Mary’s Family Center. Graveside services will take place at St. Gall Catholic Cemetery in Colton at 2:00 p.m.