October 8, 1930 – February 7, 2023

Bill was born in Chanute, Kansas on October 8th, 1930 to Gerhard & Orpha Siefken. He grew up and attended school in Kansas and Colorado. Bill joined the Air Force in Colorado at the age of 20 and was discharged in Portland, Oregon as a Staff Sergeant in December of 1954. While enlisted, he met Reta Nelson and they were married at the Portland Air Force Base Chapel on April 12, 1952.

After his discharge, they moved to Canon City, Colorado, and Bill completed a 4-year Machinist Apprenticeship at Colorado Fuel & Iron in Pueblo, Colorado. The growing family moved to Richland, Washington in 1961 and Bill started work for G.E. at Hanford, and then worked for FFTF. While employed at Hanford, Bill built 3 of his own homes, with help from Reta and their five boys. Then, in 1975 Bill & Reta founded Siefken & Sons Construction, and the family began developing the Bryn Mawr Apartments in North Richland. The apartments enabled Bill to take early retirement from Hanford in 1982, while growing their construction business. After several years, Bill retired from Siefken & Sons Construction, passing it along to the next generation, and Bill & Reta continued managing their growing rental property business.

Bill was an active member and Trustee at Redeemer Lutheran Church. He was active in Richland Rotary where he led the hands-on projects for many years including the development of Centennial Park and the Sutch Park & Bridge Relocation project. He was instrumental in the Rotary Duck Races, with the course eventually being named after him. He received several awards while in Rotary including the “Service Above Self” in 2001.

He received the Small Business of the Year “Award for Excellence” in 1995. He was an active member of the Apartment’s Association for many years. He was involved in many volunteer efforts over the years, including moving a building from FFTF to the Howard Amon Park area for the CREHST Museum and the related construction work to finish the project.

In his free time, Bill enjoyed RV traveling with Reta and their friends for many years, fishing with family and friends, and many memorable trips with family to the Oregon Coast, Hawaii, and Charbonneau Park. Bill kept active through the years, still routinely riding his bike till the age of 92.

Bill had a big heart, he was a loving and caring husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, and friend. He was a leader and entrepreneur, a respected businessman and employer; he touched the lives of so many and made lasting friendships in every area of his life throughout his 92 years.

Bill passed on peacefully, while surrounded by family, on February 7th, 2023. He is survived by his wife of 71 years Reta Mae Siefken, who has been residing in an Alzheimer’s Special Care Center for the last five years. Bill is also survived by his sister Jane Yergert, sons Richard (Carole) Siefken, Scott Siefken, Jeff (Jami) Siefken, and Bill Siefken, Jr., grandchildren, Aaron (Felicia) Siefken, Ryan (Marche) Siefken, Shane (Chelsi) Siefken, Brendan (Anissa) Siefken, Abbie (Buck) Hegland, Megan (Darrell) Russell, Jeremy (Lisa) Siefken, Jake Siefken, and 17 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his brothers Earl Siefken, Dudley Siefken, and sister Ruth Larsen, sister-in-law Birdy Siefken, son Brian Siefken, daughter-in-law Christine (Roske) Siefken, granddaughter Rowena Christine Siefken, and great-granddaughter Clara Lynn Siefken.

Family & friends are invited to attend the Celebration of Life Service on Friday, February 24, 2023 @ 2:00 pm at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 520 Thayer Drive in Richland, and are also welcome to join the family for graveside services just prior to that at 1:00 pm at Einan’s Sunset Garden’s in Richland.