Dennis O'Brien, 83

Dennis Eugene O’Brien

9/23/1939-11/28/2022

Dennis Eugene "Denny" O’Brien passed peacefully after 10 years battling colon cancer.

He was born in Newport, Wash., to Eugene and Marie O’Brien. Denny graduated from Newport High School. He worked as a glass blower in Seattle and a truck driver at Pend Oreille Mines. In 1964, he joined Laborers Local 238 in Spokane and was a driller and powderman until 1971. He was the local president from 1971 until 1974 and then became the local field representative. He represented 1,200 members in Idaho and Washington. Denny worked on the first Alaskan Pipeline and on the Terror Lake Electric Project in Alaska.

Denny married Stephanie Rogich in 1967 and they have one daughter, Terri Woods. They enjoyed boating, camping, golfing, snowmobiling and traveling.

Denny retired in 1995 to take care of his wife, who unfortunately passed away in 1998. After her death, Denny served on several union committees. For the last 16 years, Denny enjoyed restoring his 1957 Oldsmobile Super 88 and taking it to many car shows. His biggest accomplishment was winning first place in Lost in the '50s, followed by many other awards.

Denny is preceded in death by his parents, wife Stephanie and his brother, Harry. He is survived by brothers Robert (Cathy) and Gus Wallis, and sister Jan (Greg) Bradbury. He is also survived by his nephews, Justin and Kyle (Sydney) Bradbury, Jeremy (Danielle) Wallis and his great nieces, Kyla, Karisa and Kinsley Wallis.

A graveside service will be held at Newport Cemetery on Saturday, May 13, 2023, at 11 a.m. A celebration of life will follow at the Priest River Event Center on Highway 2. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Priest Lake EMT.

Sherman Campbell Funeral and Cremation Services in Newport, Wash., is in charge of arrangements. Family and friends are welcome to visit their website at www.shermancampbell.com.