Gordon Andrew Rydholm

A Celebration of Life for Gordon Rydholm will be held Saturday, May 23, 2026, at 11 AM at Christian Life Fellowship in Plummer, Idaho. A private family burial will be held prior to the service. Gordon passed away at age 79 on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at Spokane Hospice House in Spokane, Washington, from stroke related causes.

Gordon Andrew Rydholm was born September 5, 1946, in Moscow, Idaho, to Paul and Edna (Kidder) Rydholm. Gordon was raised in Viola, Idaho, and graduated from Moscow High School in 1964. He attended the University of Idaho for two semesters in 1964 and 1965, then enlisted in the US Navy for four years. After an honorable discharge, he attended Northwest College in Kirkland, Washington, where he met his wife, Penni. They were married in 1970 in Seattle. While attending school, Gordon worked full-time for the Seattle Times newspaper. Gordon and Penni then moved to Moscow briefly, then to Estacada, Oregon, where Gordon spent a couple of years working for a local lumber yard. Then on to two more years in a testing lab for a company in Gresham, Oregon, that manufactured gyroscopes for missiles and torpedoes. In 1974, they moved to Salem, Oregon, where Gordon worked at Clackamas Communications, now known as Day Wireless, retiring in 2013 after 39 years.

It was four years later, in 2017, that Gordon and Penni moved to Plummer, Idaho. Some of Gordon's fondest memories were as a teen and young adult living and working at his Uncle Bruce Kidder's farm in Plummer, and he now had an opportunity to live on the farm once again. After living there for a few years, he and his wife then moved to the central part of Plummer. No matter the house he resided in, it was Plummer and the surrounding area he so enjoyed, and being back was a dream fulfilled. It wasn't long after moving back that he became known as the "man who fixes things." And that is exactly what Gordon loved to do. God gave him the ability to fix almost anything, but it was the goal of helping people that was the true motivation behind what he did. People were important to Gordon, and giving of himself to help them was at the core of who he was. His young age hobbies of fixing cars, working on TVs, and enjoying electronics worked hand in hand with his desire to help others all throughout his life.

Family was everything to Gordon and at the top of the list of who he helped, dropping anything for them. He dearly loved his wife, children, and grandchildren, and enjoyed every moment they had together. Whether it was camping, boating, going to the ice cream store (or any store for dessert), Gordy, Dad, and Grandpa loved hard with his life.

Gordon's greatest love, though, was God, his Creator, and he devoted his life to knowing Him and honoring Him. He also served in his Salem, Oregon, church as a deacon, choir member, Sunday School teacher, and head of the bus ministry.

Gordon's survivors include his wife, Penni, of Plummer, Idaho, two daughters, Julie Pilgrim (Marty) of Salem, Oregon, and Kellie Johnson (Bernard, Jr) of Lake Stevens, Washington, and his son Erik of Keizer, Oregon; 13 grandchildren, Cody, Meagan, Alex, Gabby, Ella, Bernard III, Braeden, Sean, Caleb, Miguel, Emily, Isabella, and Dominic; and 4 great grandchildren, including one on the way. Gordon was preceded in death by his son, Michael Rydholm, and his brother, John Rydholm.

Gordon will be dearly missed in all our lives, but we are so happy he is rejoicing in Heaven with his Savior Jesus Christ.