2019 Tri-Cities Woodcarvers Rendezvous

The 2019 Tri-Cities Woodcarvers Rendezvous is scheduled for June 7-9 at a NEW LOCATION 7.5 miles south of Pasco, WA, the McNary Wildlife Refuge Education Center in Burbank, WA.  MNWR is a Federal Fish  and Wildlife center so there will be no camping or open cooking fires on site. A list of campgrounds nearby will be provided. Early reservations are suggested particularly at Army Corps parks which tend to fill first.

Rendezvous Location is: 64 Maple Street, Burbank, WA

Featured Carver, 2019

Connie Wickert grew up in Skagit County and has lived there all her life.  Her relatives moved to Washington while it was still a territory.  She married Ray, her husband of 49 years. She is a retired school teacher having taught fourth and fifth grades for 30 years.  She taught after school creative classes (Odyssey of the Mind) for many years, enjoying the creativeness she could pull out of her students.  Many years they advanced to world finals competing against other nations.  Connie retired in 2000.

She has traveled to many places around the world, visiting 6 of the 7 continents.  Antarctica still needs to be conquered.  Now Connie and Ray spend their vacations motor homing to places where they putter around exploring in their RZR or 57 Chev.  Reading and gardening are also interests, but her number one hobby is wood carving. After retiring, a friend asked Connie to take a beginning carving class with her.  She almost didn’t do it as she wanted to chainsaw carve, but after one class she was hooked, and her true hobby was born.  Connie has been carving since 2002.  She has taken many classes from well-known instructors such as Desiree Hajny, Debi Edwards, Harold Enlow, Cleve Taylor, Jerry Simchuck, Bob Guge, Floyd Scholz, Josh Guge, the Stenmans and Andy Anderson.  Connie says, “I am sure glad I did not take up chainsaw carving as I am running out of room with my small hand carved pieces”.

Connie has carved in all areas, but prefers the 3-dimensional carvings, and being able to visualize the piece from all perspectives.  Her love is carving animals but loves any carving field she is participating in at the time. She concludes by saying, “I love working with wood.  There is a warmth and liveliness to the wood and the piece that you cannot get with other types of materials.  I love the creative aspect of designing a piece.”

Obituary for Viola Mae Hiltwein

Obituary for Viola Mae Hiltwein
March 10, 1929 / February 14, 2019

Viola was born March 10, 1929 to Harry and Nora Berg in Fargo, North Dakota. She graduated from Fargo Central High School in 1947. She was wed to Leo joseph Hiltwein in 1947. Their son Michael was born and they moved to Kennewick, Washington in 1951. A second son, David Robert Hiltwein was born in 1952. Sadly, Leo died of cancer in 1975.

Viola's sister, Ellen came to live with her and together they pursued many interests. They became wood carvers, and very soon Vi became a Master Carver and teacher. They fished, bowled, raised beef and took part in many "Fun-Run" marathons from Spokane's Bloomsday Run to the San Francisco Bay Breaker Run.

Viola was a wonderful cook and candy maker. Her peanut brittle was 'legendary'!

She was greatly loved by her family and friends. She was a convert to the Catholic faith and an active member of the study group, prayer and Rosary groups at St. Joseph's.

The family request that in leu of flowers, perhaps a donation might be made to Tri-Cities Chaplaincy, The Cancer Center or Virginia Mason Hospital in Seattle.