Lyle Eckhart

Lyle Richard Eckhart, 85, of Ellensburg, Washington, passed away unexpectedly on June 20, 2018 at the Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle. Lyle will be buried in his family plot at Pleasant View Cemetery, Hartley, Iowa at a later date.

Lyle was born on August 1, 1932 in Hartley, Iowa to Frank & Rosa (Otto) Eckhart. He grew up on his family's farm in the Hartley area and graduated high school there in 1950. He went on to attend college at Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War. After two years of service, Lyle was honorably discharged from the USMC and returned to finish his college degree, graduating with a Bachelor's in Economics a couple years later. Lyle moved to California close to his brother, Edwin.

He met Jane Eherts while working in the same company in California then they married in 1960 in Las Vegas, Nevada. He built their home on an 80 acre ranch in Rosamond, California. Lyle graduated from the Los Angeles County Police Academy and worked as a corrections officer for Los Angeles County, retiring after 25 years of service. Lyle and Jane loved animals and had dogs, cats, horses, ducks, geese, a cow and anything else that wandered their way. Lyle's pride and joy was his champion cutting horse, Tiger Stripe Doc. After Jane passed away in 1994, Lyle sold the farm and moved into town.

It was in his neighborhood that he met his new neighbor, Loretta (Boulding) Hacker when she asked him to come help with the mouse problem in her garage. He obliged and the two hit it off, eventually marrying in January 1997. Lyle was very active in the LDS Church, Rosamond Senior Center, and Lancaster Senior Center. He loved to target shoot and spent many hours enjoying that sport. He enjoyed fishing and tending to his home on a 2 ½ acre parcel. He loved his wife, his family, his dogs and his many friends. They continued to live in California until moving to Ellensburg in 2015 to be closer to relatives. Lyle is survived by his loving wife, Loretta, at their home in Ellensburg; 95 year old sister Corrine King of Lakefield, Minnesota; special friends that Lyle called his son and daughter, Ken & Vania Swanson and their six sons, all of Ellensburg; three step-children; step-granddaughter Danielle and nine other step-grandchildren as well as many nieces, nephews and dear friends as well as his two little Yorkies, Magic and Mia.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife Jane and four siblings. Lyle loved Jesus Christ and served him well here on earth. Memorial contributions in Lyle's honor are suggested to the Alzheimer's Association, Arthritis Foundation, American Heart Association, National Rifle Association, or LDS Philanthropies (https://bit.ly/2Mt0zPF). Steward & Williams Funeral Home and Crematory of Ellensburg has been entrusted with caring for Lyle's family. Online condolences may be left at www.steward-williams.com