Dennis Wade Scheffer

Dennis Wade Scheffer passed away on April 22, 2026, with his wife of nearly 53 years, Patti, by his side. He was born June 22, 1955, to Arthur Scheffer and Juanita Hilton Scheffer. Dennis grew up on Lake Ranch, now known as Check Point Ranch. He was raised alongside his brothers, Edgar and Joe, and his cousins Sherrill, Scott, Lisa and Sam. He always cherished his memories of being raised in such a close-knit family, especially under the care of his grandmother, Loretta Scheffer, who the kids lovingly knew as their Mim.

 

Dennis also grew up with a girl from across the way, and he liked to tell the story that the first time they spent the night together, they were just three years old—but they were in separate sleeping bags! The two grew up side by side, and he officially proposed to Patti on their shared graduation day from Frenchtown High School in 1973. They were married that summer in a small ceremony at Lochsa Lodge and started their family the following year with their daughter, Tera, daughter Dana in 1976 and son Jason in 1979. Deciding that raising kids was too much fun to be done with three, they added two more little ones to the family with daughters Deni in 1988 and Angela in 1990.

 

In 1980, Dennis and Patti took the opportunity to move permanently to their land on Nine Mile Road, the very place Dennis had helped care for as a boy. They began building their home in 1981. Borrowing money to build their home was not an option, so it took 2 years to finally move in but not a dime was owed to the bank. Vacation days taken from work were spent putting up hay every summer. On weekends, you would find him cleaning ditches, skidding fallen trees, fixing fences, fertilizing fields or spraying weeds, only stopping by 7:00 each evening to share “Happy Hour” with Patti and their dog, Dusty. He loved and took the greatest pride in taking care of the place he called home.

 

Dennis worked many jobs over the years. Starting in 1973, he worked logging in the woods for various operations. From 1980 to 1985, he operated cranes for Western Transport, then worked at a gold mine on Kennedy Creek up Nine Mile from 1985 to 1989. He later became a brake and alignment technician for Les Schwab Tire Centers, where he spent the next 26 years, retiring in 2015. He valued the time spent in each of his careers. The lessons he learned and the skills he built carried into his everyday life, but what mattered most to him was the lifelong friendships he made along the way.

 

Retirement was Dennis’s favorite job. He and Patti finally had time to travel when they wanted, often following their grandkids to watch them play in games and tournaments. One summer, they even took their camper to Arizona to watch their grandsons, Henry and Cash, play baseball. We will never forget him in the stands quietly taking in a game, occasionally smiling to himself when Patti got after the refs. Camping was a favorite pastime, and so was fixing anything that needed it. He had a knack for giving old things new life and never owned a new vehicle, because the real satisfaction for him was keeping a used one running well. In the winter, if he couldn’t find a project, he was known to build a storage shed or small cabin in his shop using fallen trees from the property, forever finding ways to make the best of a bad situation.

 

Although Dennis never owned his own cell phone he was technically savvy and became very proficient with his MacBook Pro. He had quick links set up to the Farm and Garden section on Craigslist and all the local grocery store weekly ads. As his kids, we often came home from work to find a bag of onions or potatoes or a couple of dozen eggs waiting just inside our doors, which was his way of sharing a good deal. In the fall, he had a tradition of delivering a full stock of baking supplies to his granddaughter, Sophi, hoping that she might bake him something in return. He took pride in checking on his cows and loved taking Patti for drives around the valley, taking in scenery they both appreciated so much.

 

Although Dennis and Patti shared a strong bond throughout their lives, it grew even deeper when they faced cancer at the same time, going through treatments side by side and caring for one another with a quiet strength that only they could understand. In December after losing 30 trees on the property to a wind storm, he sectioned up all the logs and stacked them close to the house so there would be firewood for years after he was gone. He had a will of steel and refused to give up until his body just couldn’t do it any longer.

 

During his last weeks, when even moving became difficult, Dennis would still make his way to the golf cart in the evenings to take Patti on short drives around the place. He showed her how to hook up sump pumps, which oil and transmission fluid went with each piece of equipment, and all the small things he wanted her to know before he left this world. It was his way of making sure she would be okay—and if that isn’t love in its truest form, we don’t know what is.

 

Dennis is preceded in death by his parents Art Scheffer and Juanita Hirschi, his uncle Fran Scheffer, aunt Anna Cyr and grandson Waylon Scheffer. He is survived by his wife Patti, daughter Tera Pyron (Darrell), daughter Dana Scheffer (Shawn), son Jason Scheffer (Christina), daughter Deni Lebsock (Brian) and daughter Angela Unsworth (Joel), grandkids Kyle Cyr (Kaitlin), Haley McLean (Casey), Emma Newell (Tanner), Ethan Pyron (Kylie), Aidan Cyr (Olivia), Mason Pyron (Grace), Carson Pyron (Paris), Dylan Pyron (Ashlyn), Leighton Cyr, Sophia, Cash, Hazel and Hattie Lebsock, Henry Scheffer, Sawyer, Harvey and Maeve Unsworth, and great grandkids Lincoln, Ledger, Miller and Cy Cyr, Bennett and Sienna McLean, Presten, Jack, Charleigh and Quincy Newell. He is also survived by his Uncle Bill and Aunt Diana Hilton, Aunt Carrie, and Uncle John Hilton and Carla, and a bunch of cousins.

 

The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to Providence Cancer Center, Dr. Sorenson, FNP Alex Czorny, Receptionist Dana and all of the nurses who cared for him over the past three years and a special thank you to volunteer Denise Giuliani.

 

A memorial is planned for May 24, 2026 from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm at 19176 Pretty Drive in Huson.

 

He was a great man, and we will miss him every day until we see him again. The sound of his unmistakable laughter will forever live on in our hearts. We are so very grateful he was ours. He was never one to say goodbye, so—’til next time, Dad, we love you.