Ray Liberg, 92

LIBERG, Ray W. (Col. U.S. Army Reserve, Ret.)

Ray Liberg passed away Oct. 18, 2023, and has gone to be with our Lord in Heaven. He was born July 9, 1931, in Genesee, Idaho, the youngest son of Martin and Ethel Liberg. 

He graduated from Genesee High School in 1948 and worked on the farm for a few years prior to enlisting in the Idaho Army National Guard in 1951. He served on active duty until 1953 at Camp Carson, Colo. Ray returned to Idaho, where he remained in the National Guard while attending North Idaho Junior College (NIJC). He played basketball at NIJC and was the student body president his sophomore year. He also met his future wife of 55 years, Helen Walden, while at NIJC. Upon graduating from NIJC, he went on to attend Eastern Washington University, where he received both his BA and MA in education. 

Ray taught for 31 years in the West Valley School District. He spent most of his career as a PE teacher, coach and athletic director at Argonne Junior High. He coached boys and girls basketball, boys baseball, and girls softball. Ray retired from full-time teaching in 1989 but continued teaching health education, on a contract basis, for another 20 years after his retirement. 

Ray served on several local and statewide committees during his education career and worked at the state level developing the KNOW curriculum for health education. He was passionate about teaching and coaching and his legacy will live on through the thousands of kids' lives he touched during his career.

Ray’s military career spanned 39 years. He enlisted as a private E-1, in 1951 in the Idaho National Guard (Field Artillery), where he served for several years attaining the rank of master sergeant. Ray then attended Officer Candidate School and was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He served as an engineer officer, in the U.S. Army Reserve, retiring as a colonel in 1990.

Ray was an avid supporter of Eastern Washington University as a member of the Alumni Association, and the Eagle Athletic Association and served as the Association President. Ray, along with fellow EWU supporter Bob Lincoln, co-founded and operated Bob and Ray’s Beer Garden from 1991 to 2019. As a part of their effort, they collected donations and sold shirts to support EWU cheerleaders and student-athletes scholarships.

In his retirement, Ray could often be found at Eastern athletic events cheering on the Eagle teams. He also enjoyed traveling with his wife, Helen, and they took several cruises during their retired years. Ray also enjoyed time at breakfast with his friends at the Skyway Café and his daily trips for coffee. Most importantly, Ray enjoyed spending time with his family and grandchildren supporting their activities.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, his wife, Helen, and his oldest son, Jeff. He is survived by his sons, Brad (Tambra) Liberg and Brian (Debbie) Liberg; grandchildren Ryan (Bella), Hunter (McCall), Madeline, John and Michael. We are very grateful for the staff at Guardian Angel Homes, Horizon Hospice and all the doctors, caregivers, neighbors and friends who cared for him and assisted us in the past few years.  

Ray’s celebration of life will be held Nov. 12 at 3 p.m. at Center Place Event Center, 2426 N. Discovery Place, Spokane Valley, WA 99216. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in memory of Ray Liberg to either: EWU Foundation, 102 Hargreaves Hall, Cheney, WA 99004 (Note: To EAF in memory of Ray Liberg) or make a gift online to Eagle Athletics Fund: ewu.edu/supportathletics; or to the West Valley Education Foundation, 2805 N. Argonne Road, Spokane, WA 99212 (Note: in memory of Ray Liberg) or make a gift online to http://westvalleyfoundation.org/make-a-donation/.