Albert "Al" Sydney Skoglund

Albert “Al” Sydney Skoglund died on March 1, 2025, after living a long, full life, and dealing with the effects from Parkinson’s disease.

He was born on October 13, 1935, as the oldest son of Albert Sydney “Syd” Skoglund and Edna Mae Brownell Skoglund. He grew up in Spokane with his brother Rod and sister Donna.

Al loved to share stories about his active childhood on the South Hill near

25th Avenue. He’d mow lawns in the summer and had a paper route. This lead to the purchase of his first boat motor. He took that motor apart many times to learn how it worked! He went to Wilson Grade School and then Lewis and Clark High School … played the clarinet in the All City Band, was in Boy Scouts and enjoyed the Congregational Church Youth Group. He went out to the woods, to Blister Rust camps, with his Dad several times when he was growing up. He played a lot of basketball, and softball and a bit of football.

The summer before his Senior Year in high school, he moved back east with his family to Silver Spring, MD. His Dad worked in downtown Washington DC in the Department of Agriculture. He went one year to Montgomery Blair High School, where he met his future wife (Jean Marie Scoltock Skoglund 3.25.1936 to 12.11.2006). They were married almost 49 years.

After attending the University of Maryland for two years, he moved to Seattle to study Forestry at the University of Washington. He and Jean married on December 28, 1957, and began their lives on the west coast. Al worked in the Kaniksu, Malheur, Umatilla, and Colville National Forests in Blister Rust Control and Timber Management for his career … along with fighting a lot of forest fires! This lead to his love of back roads. Three daughters: Karen Skoglund Leier, Janet Skoglund Watson, and Linda Skoglund Suto were born in Sandpoint, ID where his family later continued to camp and play on Priest and Pend Oreille Lakes. His daughter, Jennifer Skoglund was born in Walla Walla after he finished building the house where his oldest daughter now lives.

Al was a hard worker and his family was important to him. Non-work time included trailer camping, boating and fishing, and visits to friends and relatives, especially in the Silver Spring, MD, Spokane and Seattle areas. He attended the Walla Walla Presbyterian Church where he was an Elder and Deacon. In 2008 he married Ann Stewart Skoglund.

Al and Ann moved to Wheatland Village in November of 2019. He continued to love drives on back roads, along with DQ cheeseburgers and milkshakes! After Ann’s death, he’s remained there and his whole family are grateful for the care he’s received. BINGO was a favorite activity at Wheatland!

Al is preceded in death by his wives, Jean and Ann; his parents; his brother Rod and his wife, Janice; great granddaughter, Poppy Massey; and countless family members and friends.

Al is survived by his sister, Donna Koziol (John); four daughters: Karen Leier (John); Janet Watson (Mark); Linda Suto (Laszlo); and Jennifer Skoglund … his ten grandchildren: Bethany Sutton (Nate); Andrew Leier; Laszlo Suto (Lindsay); Allison Leier; Kaylee Massey (Jake); Sammi Watson (Jacob); Kevin Leier (Michaela); Kristine Leier (James); Laura Suto; Joshua Suto (fiancé Eden) … and twelve great grandchildren: Alex Sutton; Rosie Massey; Parker Miller; Laszlo Suto; Peter Massey; Lucas Suto; Simon Sutton; Leeland Suto; Thea Leier; Benjamin Leier; Jameson Goranson; and Levi Suto … and any-day-now Baby Boy Goranson. He also leaves behind numerous other family members and friends.

Al’s ashes will be interred at the Mountain View Cemetery. The family will hold a Celebration of Life when they gather at Pend Oreille Lake this coming summer.

Memorial Contributions could be made to the Walla Walla Presbyterian Church, the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, or you could plant a tree in Al’s honor!

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home. Friends and family are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.herringgroseclose.com.