Lyle Ilo Soma

Lyle Ilo Soma, 82, passed to be with his Lord on May 16, 2018.  He fought a long and courageous battle with a form of bone cancer.  He was at home surrounded by his wife and children.  

Lyle was born May 9, 1936, in Kingman, Alberta.  His parents, Ilo and Emily Soma, emigrated to Carnation, WA, in 1949, bringing Lyle and his two sisters, Irene and Darlene, to a new life.  Lyle graduated from Tolt High School and was still in touch with former classmates.  Lyle worked on the family farms and then for other dairies in the Carnation area, eventually marrying a farmer’s daughter (Kay Roetcisoender) with whom he had two children (Pamela Kay and Chadwick Lyle). He met and married Alice Lorene Egbert in 1972.  He adopted her daughter, Janet, and together they brought Julie Leann Soma into the world.  

Lyle served in the US Army in Germany but otherwise spent his entire career as an equipment operator, working for Cadman, Hos Bros., and Associated Sand and Gravel.  He was a proud member of the International Order of Operating Engineers from the age of eighteen, recently receiving his sixty-year pin. He worked on the Alaska Pipeline for three seasons.  He lived in Lynnwood, Mukilteo, and then spent the past nineteen years in Chelan which he called “God’s Country.” 

Lyle was a man of many interests.  He loved to fish, hunt, boat, putter in his yard, and he spent hours in his overflowing and cluttered garage.  Lyle loved his RV, trucks, boats, and cars.  Lyle and Alice always had an RV, traveling around the country when the children were at home and then spending winters in Arizona during retirement.  Lyle and Alice joined the Lake Chelan golf circuit and spent many happy hours with golf friends.  Lyle learned to pitch horseshoes growing up which became a lifelong passion.  He spent hours pitching in Arizona and some of his happiest times were in the horseshoe pits. Lyle was always willing to lend a hand, helping friends and family.  He did the yard and maintenance work at the Lake Chelan Lutheran Church for many years.  Lyle was unfailingly cheerful; he had a song for any occasion; and he had sayings for any situation, many of which he learned in childhood.  Alice referred to him as unfailingly “irrepressible, incorrigible, and irreplaceable”.  Lyle was a “you-get-what-you-see and see-what-you-get” type of guy.

Lyle is survived by his wife, Alice, of the home; children Pamela Kay Barnard of San Carlos, Mexico; Chadwick Lyle (Val) of Grapeland, Texas; Janet Renée Weston of Raleigh, North Carolina; and Julie Leann Soma of Seattle.  He has four grandchildren: Kaley Soma of Oregon; Blake Barnard of Tempe, AZ; and Coby and Jonah Weston of North Carolina.  He also has two great-grandchildren: Amarilla and Orynn.  He is also survived by his two sisters Irene (Dick) Ulvin of West Richland and Darlene (John) of Port Ludlow.  He has numerous nieces and nephews and bonus family in-laws Marlis and Jim Egbert of Colorado Springs and Hal and Mary Ann Egbert of Eagle River, Alaska.  He has many friends from his work years, winters in Arizona, and Chelan. 

The service will be held Friday, May 25 at 11:00 AM at the Lake Chelan Lutheran Church, 216 West Nixon in Chelan.  Pastor Paul Palumbo will lead Lyle’s celebration of life.  The service will be followed by a reception in the church’s fellowship hall.  Private Interment will follow at the Chelan Cemetery.  

Lyle specifically requested no flowers.  Memorial donations in his name can be directed to the Lake Chelan Lutheran Church Memorial Fund (PO Box 1058, Chelan, 98816) or Guild B Lights of Love (Guild B, PO Box 2177, Chelan, 98816).  Alice and the family wish to thank Confluence Health for their compassionate care of Lyle over the past two years (particularly Dr. Lindsay Overton and Nurse Practitioner Susan Butler); Dr. Charles Waszkewitz and Stephanie of the Chelan Clinic; and the various staff members at Lake Chelan Community Hospital.  He was always treated with dignity and respect.  We also wish to thank Hospice for their support in his final days. 

Happy Trails, Lyle!

Precht Rose Chapel is in charge of arrangements.  Please leave any thoughts and memories for the family at www.prechtrose.com.