Clarence Rief, 78

Clarence Forrest "Frosty" Rief was born Feb. 13, 1946, in Mabton, Wash. He passed away peacefully with his family by his side Jan. 3, 2025, at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, Wash. He was raised in Priest River, Idaho.

He settled down in Davenport, Wash., in 1979 and that is where he called home until his death.

He was the first child born to Myrtle (Brennan) and Clarence Rief. He had one older half-sister Shirley McQueary (deceased); two younger brothers Howard “Dusty” (Trudy) and Richard “Rusty;” and a younger sister Patricia “Patty.”

He married Sylvia (Frappier) on April 3, 1966, and remained married for 39 years until she passed away March 31, 2005. He never remarried and said he wouldn’t because he already had the best. They had two boys, Forrest (Jennifer) and Sandy (Rhonda); and five grandchildren. 

Frosty belonged to the local 14 Ironworkers union. He retired after 29 years of hard work. He remained a member of the union and just recently received his 50-year pin. He was a proud Ironworker and was grateful for them. As an Ironworker he got to travel all over the Pacific Northwest and the world and had many stories.

Frosty loved life, family, friends, fishing, hunting, guns, reloading ammo, playing his guitars, telling jokes and stories, talking on the phone and he loved to laugh and smile. He loved the Lord! Since 2003 he still holds the Washington state record fish for kokanee at 6.25 pounds.

Frosty was a simple, honest man. His word and handshake were way more important than any paper. His later years were filled with aches and pains. He is no longer in pain and is with our Lord and his wife Sylvia. He said he would be sitting on a cloud with her hanging their feet off looking down at us.

Thanks to the Lincoln County Community for being so nice and patient with him. Thanks to the caring medical caregivers who cared for him. 

Those who were close to him will miss him dearly but this is one guy you can’t forget. Remember him with a smile because he loved to make people laugh.

Funeral services will be held at Strate Funeral Home, Davenport, Wash., on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, at 11 a.m., immediately following a gravesite service at Evergreen Cemetery, Priest River, Idaho, at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers please donate to Shepards Chapel, P.O. Box 416, Gravette, AR 72736. He spent 40-plus years listening to his word. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at strate-funeral.com for the Rief family. Strate Funeral Home, Davenport, Wash., is caring for the family.