Walter Kimball Sorenson, 88
Walter Kimball Sorenson, 88, was born on Dec. 7, 1927, in Ely, Nev., to Ruth (Shellenberger) Sorenson and Horace Kimball Sorenson. He married Carol (Belden) Sorenson on Jan. 29, 1948, in Pasadena, Calif. Dad departed peacefully from this Earth on Jan. 2, 2016, just a few weeks before their 68th wedding anniversary.
He was a wonderful, funny, kind, man who was always available to help anyone who needed it. He could fix anything from a broken heart to a broken house but don’t ask him anything about broken vehicles! Dad was our hero literally and figuratively. Dad received the Los Angeles Fire Department’s Medal of Valor for risking his own life while saving the life of his fire captain during a mudslide in San Fernando Valley, Calif.
Walt and Carol moved to Post Falls, Idaho, upon retirement from the Fire Department. He became an avid golfer and had many happy memories golfing with his sons (Kim) and Rob. His favorite hobby was woodworking in his shop where he created beautiful furniture and carvings.
Vacations were among favorite family memories. Cindy remembers a trip where, along the way he spotted a pinion pine tree, stopped right then and there to gather pinecones, make a small fire to roast them and popped out the pine nuts for all of us to share the special treat. He taught her to catch, gut and clean fish, explaining the fish’s anatomy as they worked. He had an eagle eye for the smallest flower to wildlife in nature. On one trip they stayed in a cabin in Colorado. Along the way dad spotted a chokecherry bush. We went back later and gathered chokecherries which mom and dad cooked down to syrup. The fragrance wafting through the cabin is a treasured memory.
Kim remembers learning to fish with dad, and frying fresh trout over a campfire for breakfast. He had great times playing golf with dad and his great sense of humor added to their fun. Kim took dad to breakfast at his favorite restaurant, Corner Café in Post Falls, several times a week during the past year when dad could no longer drive. The staff there truly misses him.
Val remembers a particular trip through Zion National Park. The hills were covered in various shades of red sand. She was in awe of how beautiful the hills were. Dad pulled the car over, found a mason jar among the camping gear, walked over to the side of the road and poured a little colorful sand in the bottom of the jar. That started a very exciting adventure for her. As they traveled on through the park, dad would pull over and add more sand to the jar creating beautiful layers of various shades of red sand until the jar was full.
He was never in such a rush to get to our destination that he couldn’t stop to enjoy the beauty of nature surrounding us. It was always an adventure.
Rob remembers dad teaching him to measure twice cut once. “You were always giving me good advice, teaching me how to build stuff, teaching me how to live life, sometimes in the same sentence. If I’m a good man, it’s because I learned from the best.”
Mom remembers how innovative he was. On one adventure, the family hiked into the woods with the plan to cook a steak dinner once they reached their destination. The fire was built but they had forgotten the grill. Walt cut the steaks into chunks, cut twigs from trees and made shish kebabs.
Dad was smart, creative, artistic and gentle. He passed algebra in high school even after having “ditched” most of the semester. He spent his youth hiking the mountains around Sunland/Tujunga in Southern California. He knew all the best spots for a swim in the river or a picnic breakfast.
When World War II broke out he couldn’t wait to join up and at 17, with his parent’s permission, he joined the Navy. He was only in for six months before the war ended. His “famous” quip was “They heard I was coming so they gave up.”
Whenever there was a thunderstorm, he’d wake us all up to watch it while sipping hot cocoa. He didn’t want us to be afraid. To this day, we love thunderstorms. Dad taught us all to drive, helped us with our homework, worked two jobs to keep us all in shoes and perceived must haves. He kept us laughing through it all. He will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him.
Walt is survived by his wife of 67 years, Carol Sorenson; his children, Cynthia “Cindy” Dean Matthews (Chuck), John Kimball Sorenson, Valerie Jane Johnson (Ron) and Robert Earl Sorenson (Karen); grandchildren Nicole Randolph (Mark), Dustin Matthews, Mark Sorenson, Brett Sorenson, Landon Sorenson, Courtney Johnson and Chandler Johnson; great-grandchildren Michaela Randolph and Layla Randolph; and his sister, Dean Sorenson Rhodes.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ruth and Kimball Sorenson; brother Hal Sorenson and his brother-in-law, Richard Rhodes.
Walt will be laid to rest at Coeur d’Alene Memorial Gardens in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. A celebration of his life will be planned for the spring.
English Funeral Chapel, Coeur d’Alene, has been entrusted to handle final arrangements. Please visit Walt’s online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.