Victor R. Pickett

Victor R. Pickett, 91, born August 27, 1920 in Idaho Falls, Idaho, to Howard Le Roy and Emma Pickett, passed away at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee on January 21, 2012.

Victor graduated from high school in 1938 and during World War II served as a combat infantryman with the U.S. Army participating in the Italian campaign through the North Apennines and into Italy’s Po Valley. Following the end of hostilities, Sgt. Pickett left the U.S. Army, having earned European, African and Middle Eastern Service Ribbons, the Good Conduct Medal and the Victory Medal. Following the war, Victor became engaged to Jolene Bowler, with plans to marry on Valentines Day of 1950, however, due to that being his bowling night, Victor and Jolene were instead married three days later on February 17, 1950, at the Shelley, Idaho, home of Jolene’s Parents.

Victor belonged to the Coulee Dam Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and American Legion Post 157 of Electric City. He retired as a maintenance worker at Grand Coulee Dam, enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping at Swan Lake near Republic, Wash., and loved going bowling in Coulee Dam on Wednesday nights with his Senior Bowling League friends.

Preceded in death by a daughter Peggy Glem and son-in-law Tim Mosher, Victor’s legacy lives on through Jolene, his loving bride of almost 62 years; children: Kathleen Shaw, Nancy Wendler (Bob), Denise Beeston(Ralph), Diana Mosher and Tom Glem (son-in-law); 23 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren and his sister Doris Erickson.

A commemoration of his life was held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 25 (today) in the LDS Church, Coulee Dam, with a dedication of the grave and burial following at Spring Canyon Cemetery in Grand Coulee. Strate Funeral Home of Grand Coulee, was honored to assist Victor’s family with arrangements.