Colton Allen Hofstetter

Colton was born on February 16, 1991, and left this world far too soon on October 10, 2026. In his 35 years, he made an impact that cannot be measured in time, but in the countless lives he touched, the friendships he built, the love he gave so freely, and the cherished memories he made with so many.

Colton was the loud, funny one… the one who could walk into a room and have everyone laughing before he even had a chance to sit down. He had an amazing smile that could light up a room and a personality that was impossible to ignore. A natural prankster with a quick wit and a smart-ass streak that he somehow managed to deliver with endless ease, Colton knew how to give people a hard time while making sure they knew they were loved. He brought an energy with him that made life joyous, funnier, and a whole lot more entertaining. If you knew Colton, you probably have a story about him. If you don’t, just ask someone who did. Chances are, you’ll hear several, and at least one of them probably shouldn’t be repeated in public.

To his mother, Colton was her world. To his son, he was a loving, devoted father who cherished his little boy and every moment they shared. To his family, he was a beloved father, son, brother, uncle, nephew, grandson, and cousin. To his friends, he was family in every way that mattered. And to the many people fortunate enough to cross his path, he was someone who had a remarkable way of making you feel like you’d known him forever.

Colton loved hard. He loved his family fiercely, his friends wholeheartedly, and his son beyond measure. Being a father was one of the most important parts of his life, and some of his favorite moments were the simple ones spent with Porter. Whether they were trying something new, making memories together, or heading off to the arcade (where they were frequent flyers!), Colton treasured their time together. He loved his boy so much, and those memories will forever be among the most precious gifts he leaves behind.

Colton was an avid foodie who enjoyed exploring new foods and trying new things. He had an adventurous spirit and was an adrenaline junky, through and through. He loved snowboarding, riding or driving things that went fast, and chasing the kinds of experiences that made life exciting. He enjoyed all kinds of music, because apparently even his taste in music couldn’t be confined to just one category. He was always up for an adventure, a new experience or trying something different. Sitting still and playing it safe weren’t exactly his specialties. Life was meant to be lived, and Colton intended to get his money’s worth.

One of Colton’s greatest qualities was his ability to make people feel welcome. To him, strangers were simply friends he hadn’t met yet. He made friends everywhere he went, and no one had to work very hard to feel comfortable around him. He had a natural gift for connecting with people, bringing laughter into a room, and making others feel seen, included, and loved. His big personality might have been what first caught your attention, but his big heart was what made you remember him.

That love extended to all of the children in his life as well. Colton was always playing with the little ones, picking them up, wrestling with them, jumping on the trampoline with them, loving on them, and making them laugh. It never mattered whose children they were; if they were part of the circle around him, they were part of his heart. His nieces, nephews and friends’ children were his kids to love, tease and entertain too. He didn’t just make friends, he built a community in his own way, and he treated the people in it like family. Colton had a way of making children feel special, included, and loved, and he never needed a reason to get down on the floor, join the chaos, or become the entertainment. If there were kids around, chances were good that Colton was right there in the middle of it all.

Colton was also a hard worker who took great pride in providing for the people he loved. Becoming a journeyman lineman was one of his greatest accomplishments, and he was incredibly proud of earning that title. His work demanded skill, dedication, courage, and a willingness to show up when others needed help most. He worked many storms across the United States, often going where conditions were difficult and the work was essential. He understood the importance of what he did and took pride in being someone others could count on. His career reflected his determination, grit, and commitment to doing what needed to be done.

But Colton’s legacy is about so much more than his work, his adventures, or the things he accomplished. It is about the way he loved. The laughter he left behind. The friendships that grew wherever he went. The children who felt special, safe and loved in his presence. The family and friends he loved with his whole heart. And Porter Ray, who will forever carry the love of his father with him.

Colton was preceded in death by his father, Mark; his grandfather, Richard; his grandmother, Patsy; and his grandmother, Terry. Though he is gone far too soon, the love he gave and the memories he created will remain with those who knew him for the rest of their lives.

Colton is survived by his beloved son, Porter; Porter’s mother, Sheree; his mother, Stephanie and father, Kevin; his sisters, Danielle and Isabella; his stepbrothers, Brandon (Kody) and Jordan (Sammi); and his many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins. He also leaves behind extended family, countless friends, and all the people who were lucky enough to know him, love him, and become part of his life.

Colton’s life was heartbreakingly short, and there are no words that can make sense of losing someone so young. There will be memories that bring laughter through tears, stories that will undoubtedly be told again and again, and moments when his family and friends will catch themselves wishing they could hear his voice, see his incredible smile, or give him just one more hug or kick in the pants. There will be jokes that no one else can quite deliver the way he did, pranks that will forever be hard to top, and moments when the world feels a little quieter because the loudest, funniest person in the room is no longer there to fill it.

He leaves behind a space that no one else can fill. But he also leaves behind a lifetime of love packed into 35 years, friendships that will endure, memories that will never fade, and a reminder to live a little more boldly, laugh a little louder, try something new, and love your people hard.

Colton was so deeply loved, fiercely proud of his family, endlessly funny, and unforgettable to the people who knew him. His smile, his laughter, his big personality, and his even bigger heart will live on in the people he loved and the countless lives he touched. He will be missed more than words can ever express and loved for the rest of our lives.

Celebration of Life

In honor of Colton and the incredible life he lived, family and friends are invited to gather for a celebration of his life on November 7, 2026 at 3pm, at the Burgess residence, 8033 Rd. 4.2 NE, Moses Lake, Washington. Together, we will share stories, remember the laughter, celebrate the memories, and honor the life of someone who meant so much to so many. As we come together to remember Colton, may we find comfort in one another and in the love that will forever keep his memory alive.