Rodney Gene Bise

Rodney Gene Bise, with a twinkle in his eye and a joke on his lips, cashed out to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, December 5, 2015, surrounded by his family. Rodney was born on June 13, 1947, in Coulee Dam, Washington, and passed away in Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane after a short illness.

Rodney married Joy Blackledge, March 11, 1967, in Coeur d' Alene, Idaho. They were both so young that their mothers went with them. Rodney was still saying, at the end of his 68 years of life, that Joy was the best thing that had ever happened to him and that he didn't even want to think how he would have turned out without her in his life!

They traveled around Washington and Oregon, with Rodney working construction as a driller until they settled back in Grand Coulee, where Rodney finished a 30-year career at Grand Coulee Dam as a driller and hydro-maintenance man.

Rodney volunteered with the Grand Coulee Volunteer Fire Department and Ambulance Service and retired as Assistant Fire Chief after over 34 years of service.

He was a lot of things to a lot of people. He was a firefighter, EMT, hunter, coach, umpire, Lake Roosevelt sports fan, Santa, and a very amazing man.

Everything that Rodney did, he gave 110% to it or he didn't want to be involved!

Rodney is survived by his wife, Joy; daughters: Candi (Gary) Rosco and Sherri (Rodney) Boutain, all of the Grand Coulee area; grandsons: Scott (Bailey) Rosco, San Diego, California; and Dalton Boutain, Houston, Texas; granddaughters: Lindsey Rosco and Kassadi Boutain, both of the Grand Coulee area; and great-grandson, Colton Rosco. Rodney knew he had the greatest grandkids and great-grandson ever! Also surviving are his brothers: Earl of Moses Lake, Washington, and Bobby of Tennessee; and sister, Mary Lou Miller of Spokane, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Rodney was preceded in death by his parents, Sam and Olive Bise, brothers: Jimmy, Harry, Jerry and Eddie Bise, and sisters: Barbara Alling and Carol Ann Haskins.

A celebration of Rodney's life is scheduled on Saturday, December 19, at 2:30 p.m., in the old middle school gym. This will be a casual gathering, with a potluck followed by ice cream sundaes provided by the family. Sharing memories of Rodney is encouraged. For those that choose not to speak, there will be a memory box available for written memories to share with the family.

Memorial donations may be made in Rodney's name to the Grand Coulee Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 180, Grand Coulee WA 99133.