Albert Hedin passed away Sunday, August 21, 2016. He had two great loves family and forest. From an early age, he decided to devote his adult life to the management of forests.
Born on April 24, 1938 in Seattle, Washington, he was raised on a small farm in Maple Valley, Washington where he graduate from Tahoma High School. He was active in sports, drama and an officer in several school organizations and classes.
Al (Known as Bert, Al or Swede to various friends and relatives) graduated from the University of Washington in 1961 in Forest Managements. He was a member of Theta Xi fraternity and was active in intramural and city league sports.
After graduation Al went to work as a forest research assistant for the Weyerhauser Company in Centralia, Washington, until starting a six month tour of duty with the Army National Guard. Upon return to civilian life, he began a 30 year career with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, specializing in forest management. This profession took him to many parts of the state and increased responsibilities.
In 1966 he married his first wife, Evonne Ostle. They had three children Mark, Gregg and Ann. In 1985, they divorced. He then married Sandra Sandahl Quintanar in Colville, Washington. Sandy had two daughters, Erica and Mandy and together they created a blended family.
In 1992 Al retired and he and Sandy moved to Boise, Idaho. She to work for Bank of American and Al to work half time for the Idaho Department of Lands in forest management for 7 years followed by several years of private forestry consulting.
Al led an active life, being a member of Rotary and The Elks in several job locations. In 1967, Al purchased lake frontage on Mason Lake in western Washington State. In 1968, he built a cabin next to the lake where the family spent many summer vacations. Al also enjoyed a variety of sports including golf, fishing, hunting, water skiing, and snow skiing. Al and Sandra also loved to travel with many excursions throughout the USA, Europe and Mexico.
He had a good life. He is survived by Sandra, his wife of 28 years, her daughter Erica (Chip) and Mandy (Jim) his sons, Mark (Anne) and Gregg, his daughter Ann, 5 grandchildren: Isaac, Riley, Bryden, Signe and Brynn, and his sister Betty Cummings as well as many other relatives and friends.
A funeral Service in Boise, ID will be held on September 3, 2016 followed by a grave side service in Maple Valley at the Maple Valley Hobart Cemetery at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016.
