The Randy Garretson I knew many years ago was a ski jumper at Denver University who flew through the air with the greatest of ease.  It was a thrill to watch him make a perfect landing coming off the ski jump at Howelson Hill in Steamboat.  Rest in Peace Randy!  Love, Claudia 


I just recently found out about Uncle Randy passing. He was one of the great men in my life that was an adopta Uncle to us and had a huge part in my childhood. From feeding the animals, to helping the animals give birth. To hours of play time in the hay barn, and that crazy attack rooster that liked to jump out of the bushes. So many many fond memories. The man had a smurf collection every child envied lol. He had a zest for life that spread to everyone he met. He never let his chair hold him back from living everyday to the fullest. There was never a dull moment when Uncle Randy was around. He taught me life is what you make it. My love of farm life comes greatly from him. He taught us so much. I only got to speak to him once a year in the past 3 years but it was always good to hear from him. He will be greatly missed. I wish I had the chance to tell him thank you for being a part of who I am today. <3 Cheers Uncle Randy, We'll smurf you later.

To surviving family and friends,

I was one of Randy’s regular caregivers a few years back. It was easy to build rapport right away because we both shared humor, wit, and a general spirit around life. He stood out to me in the way he lived his life, the perspectives he held, and how much he shared and gave. I really enjoyed the time we spent together that spanned about a year. Caregiving is always special work, but people like Randy make it really enjoyable and heart-warming. I found out about his passing just today, after trying to contact him during my visit to South Whidbey this weekend. I was hoping to stop by, maybe with some fruit to share. I was looking forward to following him around the farm as he showed me how well the food had grown, and as he updated me on life and the neighborhood.

I feel grateful now that we had a good phone conversation in the months before his passing. He was so supportive of my journey to becoming a nurse and at the time, was a huge encourager and really believed in me.  I wanted to tell him this weekend that he was right, and that I made it. 

His stories, his jokes and pranks, his intellect and spirit. Like said in previous entries here, Randy was a gem on Whidbey Island. The way he lived on the land and did so much even after accidents that many others don’t survive. 

I love you Randy and I’ll miss you and the great visits we had.

Jessica 

Randy took the high road in life.  He had a positive outlook and a generous spirit.  He had a knack for telling stories and a hearty sense of humor.  He enjoyed posting curious signs on the road and flying flags from various nations to entice unsuspecting visitors to come up the driveway to the house where he enjoyed revealing the prank and having a good conversation.  He lived in harmony with the land that sustained him and was a lifelong learner.  The learning was passed on to the little ones as he encouraged them to feed apples to the cows, gather eggs and take a peek at the barn owl.  Visits often included games of pinball and ripe berries or whatever was ready to be enjoyed.  I will miss the Christmas letters, phone conversations and lively conversations in the shade on the deck.  Thanks for everything Randy.  You were a good man.

I've been hoping to hear from Randy the past few months. On our last phone visit he said his Christmas letter was addressed and would be mailed soon.  How sad to lose a dear college friend after sharing 52 years of  entertaining phone conversations, birthday cards and those wonderful Christmas letter updates on the cattle, fruit crop, barn owl poop, flag raisings etc.   I'll never forget the last time I saw Randy in person was when I had a retail business on Main St. in Breckenridge, CO in the 1970's,  and he pulled up in front of the store in his huge banana-motif commercial curtain cleaning vehicle (I wish I could remember the company name that was emblazoned on the side).   It really got  attention back in those early, quiet ski town days.
Thank you everyone for sharing your memories of Randy.  He was one of the most original and creative people i've known and I wish I had a recording of even one of our many phone calls to hear his voice again.  You are missed.


It takes a community to raise a kid and Randy was an essential part of the Whidbey Island community that raised me. He was a friend who taught me how to be respectful towards others and the importance of a good joke. He was also my first employer and taught me how to work hard. His most important lesson, however, was the power of generosity. I can’t remember a time that I visited when Randy didn’t listen intently to me or offer me a gift to take home, be it produce from his farm, an aloe plant, or a Werther’s candy. Also, one time during one of my birthdays, I arrived unannounced with 20 of my friends and asked him if we could play in the “Men’s club” game room. Randy, of course, let us play! The extent of generosity that Randy showed was rare and admirable. 

Randy meant a lot to me, our family, and the community on Whidbey. I was so sad to hear that he passed away. But I celebrate his life and the important lessons that he taught. I look forward to passing those on. Rest in peace, Randy.

uncle randy was one of a kind, and one of the kindest people i’ve ever known. i remember playing shuffleboard in his clubhouse with my grandparents, and him showing me the proper way to flick my wrist to score. he would always let me name his cows, and pick out my favorite. “that one’s for you. that’s macey’s cow.” 

randy was my grandfather’s best friend, and a huge part of my family’s life. he will be so missed, and was so adored. 

lots of love <3 
macey

I was lucky to have Randy in my life, he was one of my Dad's longest childhood friends. They had plenty of memories from Kindergarten to just this past summer. They had planned to get together once things with Covid allowed. I spent several fun filled sleep overs at the Ranch, my first memory was how awesome it was for a young kid that everything in Randy's house was fit for me ... obviously it was customized for him but it really was pretty cool. Then there was the wooden hot tub. My brother and I splased and carried on in that entertainment vessel while my parents and Randy caught up on the deck. Randy's beloved Ruby and Rastas cats, how many cats were there really? :) Once we were staying over and Ruby had kittens and they got stuck behind a drawer they were being kept in. We all worked as a team to get them out. From wearing all white into the pig pen and running a muck with Link, Patty & Petunia - to Uncle Randy promising anything I could catch at the Island Co. Fair I could keep at the farm, to starry nighted ferry rides home from Double Bluff as a kid and more recently with my own daughter who has had the great pleasure of spending her own time with my Dad and Randy on the farm, my memories are vast and wonderful. 

It saddened me to learn of his passing. Randy was a dear and close friend of the family, a wonderful long time friend of my Dad, I remember his Mother Isabelle (Izzy) and her beautiful Whidbey Island home with the amazing Madrona trees. Randy was a part of my world and he will be missed. Rest peacefully Randy, you were one heck of a character who brought a genuine spark to life. Until we meet again. XO Heather 

Hi Leslie and Jan,

I have wonderful memories of Randy, I was a new student at Lake Washington High School and it was our junior year, and we were in English class.  I didn’t know Randy, I didn’t know anyone, but when I would go back to my desk my books would be gone.  Unbeknownst to me,  Randy would hide my books, he was 16 years old, and that was how we met.  We dated during our junior year and part of the senior year,  then went our separate ways for University.  After his accident, I visited him in the hospital in Seattle, what a spirit he had.

The last time I saw Randy was when he was living in or just outside of Denver, I stopped to visit him, and after that an occasional phone call.  He was one of a kind, and I am glad to have met him.  

Warmest regards,

Maureen Coddington (formerly Maureen Bloom)

PS: Jan, I met you when we were students at the University of Washington.

RIP Randy, great american wash state ski hall of fame , cousin  famous ski jumper ,, last spring visited  whidby  ranch talked 2 hrs toured farm , brother jay and i  talked skiing trading salmon for prime rib.  just great guy and rancher professer famous whidby guy 
 fly away randy !!!  john  follman clear lk wash 

Randy was a dear friend to us here on Whidbey.  He was the picture of success in life: no self pity and so much interest in Life. We would visit and simply talk... He’d fly the Swiss flag when he’d want me to visit.  He was one of the great treasures of our lives out here, and he will be greatly missed.  They don’t make them like that anymore. 

Our family has been neighbors of Randy for 31 years. Our kids grew up visiting him and enjoyed playing the old pinball games in his "Clubhouse".  He even allowed our son, Matt, to have a "Clubhouse" Birthday party there for him and his 6th grade friends. We'll always have memories of many good times and conversations over the years. He'll be missed.

Marv, Sue, Matt and Zach Idso

OBITUARY

Randall William Garretson

29 July, 1946 – 8 December, 2020

Acacia Memorial Park & Funeral Home

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