Susan Colleen Willard

March 11, 1957 – November 29, 2021

Susan Colleen Rettkowski Willard passed away quietly at Hospice House of Spokane on Monday, Nov. 29, 2021. Sue was born March 11, 1957, to Eugene and Hazel Rettkowski of Reardan in Spokane, Washington. The family moved to the Columbia Basin in 1961, where Sue started kindergarten. She helped on the farm, as her older brothers graduated and moved away. She used to say, “There wasn’t anything she couldn’t drive.” She went to Spokane Community College, studying as an optometric technician, working in Colfax and Spokane in the beginning.

Sue met Robert Willard through mutual friends in Spokane. In the winter of 1984-85, she moved with him to Anchorage, Alaska, driving the ALCAN Highway in her small car, packed to the brim.

Sue and Bob enjoyed the “Alaska” life – fishing, clamming and camping.

They opened their home to friends and relatives and were wonderful ambassadors of Alaska.

Sue’s mother, Hazel, and Bob’s mother, Joyce, visited often and stayed for extended periods.

They decided to return to Washington to be with Hazel in 2009.

They purchased a home in Spokane Valley, and continued traveling with Hazel, reconnecting with old friends and making new friends along the way.

Sue took a job as a technician for an optometrist in Barrow, Alaska, that had her in Barrow for alternating weeks. She used her off-weeks to garden, camp and just be with Mom.

She loved to live, try new things, laugh with friends and just enjoy getting together. If there was a fire involved to sit around, all the better.

Sue was adventurous, sharing (even with ice cream), determined, helpful and crafty. She loved her nieces and nephews. She loved to can the fruits of her bountiful garden, play with her dogs and sew something (anything), and had friends from coast to coast.

Sue is survived by her husband Bo of Spokane Valley, brother Patrick (Bonnie) Rettkowski of Warden, stepdaughter Anne (Warren) Achey of Spokane, sister-in-law Gayla (Lonney) Filler of Clarkston and sister-in-law Barbara Rettkowski of Othello. She is also survived by nephews and nieces Michael and Paul (Michelle) Rettkowski, Krystal Rettkowski, Kathleen Foster, Amber (Tony) Martinez, Jessica Rettkowski and Jason (Nicole Bustos) and Joseph Filler. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Hugh, stepson Vern Willard and sister-in-law Nikki Pearson. She also leaves innumerable friends from Barrow, Alaska, to Florida.

A Celebration of Life reception will be held on Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021, at St. Mary Catholic Church Adult Center, 304 S. Adams Road Spokane Valley, Washington, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Private graveside service will be held Monday, Dec. 20, 2021, at the Bess Hampton Memorial Gardens, Othello, Washington, at 11 am. A reception at the Othello Senior Center will be held after.

Arrangements are by Pacific Northwest Cremation and Funeral of Spokane Valley, Washington.

The family asks that you consider a donation to the Hospice of Spokane in lieu of flowers: https://www.hospiceofspokane.org/giving.