RALPH JOSEPH HEFT

Ralph Joseph Heft, age 66, passed away on Oct. 3, 2010, at his home after a courageous battle with metastatic breast cancer.

His parents were Joe and Polly Heft; after Joe's death in 1965, Polly married Robert "Bob" Winkelman, the best step-dad ever.

Ralph's quiet strength and natural leadership were honored with multiple awards, starting as early as the Boy Scouts. He was a humble, kind and joyous man who was deeply loved and will be dearly missed. His final days were lovingly filled with visits and calls from his many friends and relatives.

Ralph graduated from Issaquah High School in 1962 and joined the Army Reserves on the advice of his father. Joe had served as a Lt. Colonel in WWII and felt that the reserves offered the best chance of avoiding front line duty. While completing his Army Reserve duty, Ralph received his BS in forestry from the University of Montana in 1967. He married
Ruth Schmoe on May 22, 1971, at Eastside Friends Meeting.

His career with the Bureau of Land Management began in Nevada and brought him to Utah and Oregon. In his last year with the BLM, he worked on the Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management Project where he received the ICBEMP Star award. He retired at age 55 after 31 years of federal service and was presented with the U. S. Department of the Interior Superior Service Award, which is rarely given to field level managers.

Upon retirement, Ralph and Ruth moved back to Washington, where he joined his parents in running Big Lake Trees, their u-cut Christmas tree farm. He loved the great outdoors, no matter the weather, and was happy to put his forestry degree to use. During the Christmas selling season he enjoyed seeing generations of families return to find just the right tree for their homes. He took great pleasure in music and singing with the Skagit Valley Chorale where he was surrounded by a wonderful group of musicians and friends.

When not working on the farm, Ralph devoted his time to preserving natural lands and promoting better ecology for future generations to enjoy. He volunteered extensively with the Skagit Land Trust, serving on the stewardship committee where he used his career of land management experience to write management plans tailored to each property and the owner's wishes. He received the Trust's Blue Heron award in 2007 for "making a difference." He pushed the board for policies to ensure that the lands would be properly cared for in perpetuity. He believed that protecting critical parcels of privately held land from development is the key to preserving the ecosystem and natural habitats of Skagit County for future generations. For his efforts, the Trust renamed the Stewardship Reserve Fund in his honor this past spring.

He is survived by his wife, Ruth; daughter Rebecca Heft and her husband, Nick Reed of Glendale, AZ; and three brothers, Bill Heft and his wife Cynthia of Bellingham, Phil Heft and his partner, Terri of Bellingham, and Kymb Heft of Seattle. Phil will continue to manage Big Lake Trees.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Jonathan Gamson for his kindness and his ability to clarify treatment options when Ralph was faced with the often bewildering opinions of specialists.

A memorial service will be held Friday, October 8, at 6PM at First United Methodist Church, 1607 E. Division.

Donations may be made to the Skagit Land Trust, for the Ralph Heft Stewardship Reserve Fund, or Hospice of the Northwest.