Frederick Brian Burke, 64 years of age, passed away on Thursday, July 9, 2020 at Harborview Hospital in Seattle. Fred was born on July 3, 1956 in Wawota, Saskatchewan to the late James and Eva Burke. He was the youngest of 13 children, five of whom preceded him in death. Coming from such a large one himself, there's nothing Fred loved more than family. And after marrying Debra Susan Haaland on February 2, 1974, together, they went on to have six children of their own. Their cherished first child, Johnathan David Shane Burke, died in infancy.

A firm believer in hard work, self-sufficiency, and the merits of education, Fred supported his young family in Tonasket by working in the apple industry before going back to school to achieve a BA in Accounting from Eastern Washington University in 1990. He began his career in accounting at Ferry County PUD in Republic, where he lived and worked for the next six years. He then went on to become the Chief Accountant at Okanogan PUD, putting in 24 years of service until his passing.

Fred had an unusual knack for numbers and affinity for order. He was the king of the spreadsheet, and his favorite form of literature was any sort of operating manual. A stickler for detail and honest to a fault, Fred held fast to his beliefs and defended them fiercely. Yet he also had a boundless capacity to love. His greatest pleasure (other than sipping rum on the beach in Saint Martin) was being surrounded by his enormous family. If there was a party involved, so much the better. His home was always open to anyone who needed a place to stay or a meal to eat. Equal parts frugality and generosity, Fred was an enigma to many but respected by all.

Fred is survived by his wife, Debbie Burke; son, Erin Frederick Burke; daughter, Shannon Louise Stringer; daughter, Meagan Eva Price; daughter, Kathryn Isabel Burke; daughter, Carolyn Ashley Schreckengast; nine grandchildren; seven brothers and sisters; and a plethora of nieces and nephews. He will be infinitely missed by them all.

Graveside funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 17 ^th at the Tonasket Cemetery.