Ruben Ernest Briest

Ruben Ernest Briest, born on April 23, 1924 in Gaylord Minnesota, passed away peacefully December 14, 2014 with his daughters by his side in Bothell Washington at the age of 90. Ruben graduated from Gaylord High School and attended The Duwoody Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He left Minnesota in 1948 and headed west to Seattle, Washington with his cousin Wesley Briest. He met his loving wife Joyce Anderson, who was also from Minnesota, in Seattle and they married in 1954 and spent the next decades of his life raising and loving his family in Shoreline, Washington. Ruben was a buyer for The Boeing Company until he retired in 1988. Ruben may not have played basketball or piano, but he had very large hands and was frequently asked about them! He was also a socialite who enjoyed dancing, both ballroom and square dancing, bowling, golf, and loved playing all card games especially bridge and pinochle. He moved to The Foundation House in Bothell in 2008 and made many good friends and prided himself in knowing everyone’s name. He always kept a positive attitude about everything in life. Ruben was preceded in death by his wife Joyce; his parents, his brother Leroy Briest; sister Betty Griffin; and is survived by his three daughters: Debi (Martin) Dopps, Pamela (Keith) Sorem, and Judith (Lester) Seto; grandchildren Kainoa and Ashley Seto, Danielle and Kristen Sorem, Ryan and Jamie Dopps, sister Marion Olson, numerous nieces and nephews, and many wonderful friends. The Memorial Service will be held on January 10, 2015 at First Lutheran Church of Bothell at 11:00 a.m., followed by a reception at The Foundation House, 17502 102nd Ave NE, Bothell, WA 98011. All are welcome to come and share stories.

If you send flowers, please direct them to First Lutheran Church of Bothell.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation in Ruben's name to Bothell Fire and EMS.

Bothell Fire and EMS

10726 Beardslee Blvd.

Bothell, WA 98011

(425) 486-1678

Please visit www.acaciafuneralhome.com to sign the online guestbook and for directions.