Michael Carter Rodeen, who worked for WSU Facilities Services Operations from July 1987 to July 2009, died Feb. 26, 2018, in Yakima, from complications of Alzheimer’s disease. He was 73.
Mike was born Oct. 11, 1944, in Bellingham, Wash., to Raymond and Betty (Carter) Rodeen. He graduated from Pullman High School in 1962, and from Washington State University in 1969. He married Connie Harlow in Pullman in 1965.
Mike worked for Deere and Co. from 1969 to 1977. In 1977, Mike and Connie moved back to Pullman and he joined Everett Will Tractor Co. in Moscow. In 1980, he became a partner in Pullman Tractor. In 1987, he left John Deere to start the recycling program at WSU. He retired from WSU in 2009.
Mike was active in the Pullman Lions Club for many years. He and Connie traveled many times to Hawaii and to Friday Harbor, Wash., where his mother was born and raised. He enjoyed farming, WSU football, cowboy movies and taking care of his and Connie’s home west of Pullman.
He is survived by Connie, his wife of 52 years; his daughters, Stephanie (TJ) Erickson, Tina Rodeen and Valerie Rodeen; son Ryan Rodeen; granddaughters Tracie and Larkyn Erickson, Cheyanne and Shannon Stokes and Bethany Halseth; grandsons Tony Erickson, Hunter Halseth, and Carter and Bryce Rodeen; and brother Paul Rodeen (Judy) of Spokane.
Mike’s memorial service will be 2 p.m. March 23 at Pullman Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in Mike’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association Washington State Chapter, www.alzwa.org.
