William (Bill) DeBrian Funk was the youngest child of five born to Chester and Lucile (Beintema) Funk at their home in Burbank, WA. on June 18, 1937.
At about the age of 4 the family moved to DesMoines, WA where they remained. Graduating in 1956 from Highline High School. He served in the Navy Reserve from 1956-1963.
During his high school summer break in 1955 Bill began his career with the Boeing Company as a bus boy in one of the cafeterias. He retired 37 years later, in 1992, from the Renton plant as a General Manager.
Carole Ann Dempke was the last of four children born to Francis (Pete) and Dorothy Elizabeth (Gardner) Dempke on January 18, 1943, at home in Carbondale, CO. In the summer of the same year, the family packed up and relocated to Renton, WA for her father’s work. When Carole was a young teen, they moved to Pacific, WA. Carole attended Auburn High School and graduated in 1960.
At a mutual friend’s wedding in the Spring of 1958, Bill and Carole met, fell in love, and became inseparable. A little over a year later, in June of 1959 they were wed. They were married for over 63 years before Bill’s death.
December of 1960 brought them a daughter, Elizabeth (Betty) Funk.
In November of 1962 a second daughter was born, Cherryl Funk.
The family moved to Buckley, WA. in 1972 where they had a little bit of acreage to garden and raise the usual barnyard animals. Te years flew by with the girls’ 4-H, FFA, horse shows, band, vacations, and other activities that they encouraged and supported.
In 1976, after the girls were mostly raised, Carole trained and took on the job as a Police and Fire dispatcher for the City of Enumclaw. She loved her job and made many lifelong friends there. Carole retired as the Dispatch Supervisor in 1997 to care for her daughter Cherryl and later to travel the country and world with Bill. Tat same year they bought a new motor home and lived in it year-round for 20 years. They explored the country and spent their winters at their RV lot in Happy Trails Resort, Surprise, AZ. They made many friends and were active at the resort. The summers were mostly spent in Buckley with family and friends.
In 2017 they sold and moved from the RV into a permanent park model and became year-round residents at Happy Trails.
In December of 2021, due to multiple health issues for both, Bill and Carole left Happy Trails to live nearer to their daughter Betty in Las Vegas, NV.
• Bill passed on November 16, 2022, at home with his loving wife and daughter close by.
• Carole, missing him terribly, left to rejoin him in heaven 8-1/2 months later on August 5, 2023, at her daughter’s home.
• Both Bill and Carole were predeceased by all of their parents and siblings. Tey lost their cherished daughter, Cherryl to cancer in September of 1997. (Which triggered their early retirement and world travels).
• They are survived by daughter, Betty (and Bill) Williams of Las Vegas, NV. Son in Law, Walt (and Meg) Williams of Maple Valley, WA. Grandchildren, Sharae Snider, Ryan (and Cassie) Stotts, Julian Lucque, Emma Mullins. Great-grandchildren, Orray, Scout, Ella, and Gabriela. Several nieces and nephews, cousins, and all of those wonderful friends that they’ve made throughout their lives, work and travels. Too many to name.
• Their final resting place is with their daughter Cherryl at Buckley Cemetery.
