Rex Turner Lyle

Rex Turner Lyle

Feb. 25, 1930 – Mar. 17, 2024

Rex Turner Lyle passed away on Mar. 17, 2024 at East Adams Rural Hospital in Ritzville, WA. Rex was born on Feb. 25, 1930 to Samuel Delaney Lyle and Estelle May (Turner) Lyle in Pasco, Wash. and grew up on the family homestead farm northwest of Hatton, Wash. Rex graduated from Lind High School in 1948 and went on to attend Washington State University where he graduated from the College of Agriculture with a Bachelor's Degree in 1953. There he met the love of his life, Juanita Havlina, from Connell, who graduated as an RN with a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing.

Rex farmed in partnership with his brother Elwyn Lyle from 1953 until 1981. Rex and Juanita moved from the Hatton homestead farm to Ritzville in 1960, expanding their family farming partnership, leasing farmland near Marcellus. Their four children, Chris Lyle (Elizabeth Shinn), Nadine King (Daniel King), Kevin Lyle (Debora Hilmes) and Stephanie Lyle, grew up attending classes and graduating from the Ritzville School District. Rex and Juanita adopted their Korean-born son Tom in 1988.

Rex and Juanita began building their new house in Ritzville in late 1980 and moved into town in 1981. Rex's greatest mission in life was to see Columbia Basin Project water delivered to the homestead farm northwest of Hatton. Rex served on the Board of Directors of the East Columbia Irrigation District from 1987 to 2005. That mission is handed down for the next generation to accomplish. He was a member of the Columbia Basin Development League, the Ritzville Lions Club and the Trinity United Methodist Church.

Rex and Juanita celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in 2023. Rex is survived by his wife Juanita, their four children, ten grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren and his first cousin Elaine McDaniel. He was preceded in death by his son Tom, his sister Phyllis Mason and his brother Elwyn Lyle.

A visitation will be held Tuesday April 2nd, 2024 at Danekas Funeral Home in Ritzville, Wash. from 9am to 5pm.

Burial will be Wednesday, April 3rd at 2:00PM at Mountain View Cemetery in Connell.

A memorial service will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church on Friday, April 5th at 11:00AM in Ritzville. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Trinity United Methodist Church or to the WSU Foundation for the Lind Dryland Research Station Endowment Fund.