Saturday, June 21, 2025
Lyle (Les) O. Kile, 97, of Wenatchee, Washington, Passed Away Peacefully
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Lyle (Les) O. Kile , a beloved husband, father, grandfather and teacher who passed away peacefully on April 6, 2025, at the age of 97.
Les Kile was born on December 11, 1927, in Butlerville Wisconsin, and lived a life filled with adventure and accomplishment. He was a true family man, mentor to all his students, and a friend to all who knew him.
Les grew up with his parents, five brothers and two sisters on a farm in Butlerville located in northern Wisconsin. He loved being surrounded by farms and the great outdoors. He attended Greenwood High School in Greenwood, Wisconsin where he loved books and sports.
After high school graduation he and his brother Lawrence rode motorcycles from Wisconsin to Wenatchee Washington following his sister June who had moved to Wenatchee with her spouse.
His can-do spirit and hard work ethic enabled him to take a job with the North Cascade Smokejumpers based in Winthrop WA. He parachuted out of airplanes to fight forest fires in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s all around Washington, Oregon and Northern California
He attended Wenatchee Valley Community College where he met Lorraine Brunton Kile, his wife of over 70 years.
He graduated from Oregon State University in the early 1950’s and began his teaching career at Dryden School, Teaching junior high school history and social studies. His students all recall that he would simply point his finger to quiet-down rowdy students. He retired from teaching in 1982 and focused on cattle ranching and farming.
Les Kile’s greatest joy came from learning and teaching his decades of students, working on his farm and sharing a lifetime of stories with his family and friends.
Les Kile is survived by his four children: Bruce Kile, Moses Lake, WA, Sandra Kile Bostian, Lovelock, NV, Melinda Kile, Edmonds WA, Lisa Kile Smallwood, Cashmere WA. And 11 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren, as well as many other family members and friends who will miss him dearly.
Les Kile was predeceased in death by his wife, Lorraine Kile and his parents and seven siblings. He will always be remembered for his dry, quick wit, love of adventure and enjoyment of books and storytelling.
A memorial service to celebrate Les Kile's life will be held at Dryden Community Hall, 6817 Dryden Avenue, Dryden WA, on April 26 at 2 pm.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Dryden Improvement Club in Les Kile’s memory.
Les Kiles's memory will forever be etched in our hearts, and we will miss him dearly.
