He always called himself a side-hill gouger, fitting for a man who scraped out a living as a logger and a farmer. On January 17, 2013, William Keith Fletcher passed away while snowmobiling on the back ridge of his home place. Known by everyone as Keith, he was born October 7, 1935, in Okanogan, Washington, to Shirley and Alice Fletcher.
He was raised in Ferry County on "Emery's Ground," a chunk of black-dirt farmland nestled between the north end of Curlew Lake and Mt. Elizabeth and bordered by an old aspen grove with a panoramic view of the Kettle Mountain Range—the spot where his granddad homesteaded in 1901. Keith attended Republic school with the class of '54; in 1957 he married Wanda Fraley. He loved bluegrass and country music and he played guitar and picked a little banjo. Later in life he learned to play the fiddle. You could usually find him outside taking care of the farm. He loved guns, hunting, and snowmobiling and would surprise you with his candid wit. Keith belonged to a world-wide, non-denominational Christian fellowship.
He is survived by his wife of fifty-five years, Wanda; his five daughters Connie Fletcher, Republic; Brenda Hanson (Robert), Whitefish, Montana; Jeannie McCullough (Dave), Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; Kelli Medhus (Mel), Columbia Falls, Montana; Holly Tietz (Danny), Clarkston, Washington; eleven grandchildren Heidi Horak (Jeff), Scott Hanson (Jenna), David McCullough, Keith Harmon (Alicia), Allison McCullough, John Harmon (Hayley), Megan Biggs, Madelyn Druffel, Andrew Druffel, Cole Medhus, Scout Medhus; great-grandson Emery Druffel; sister Gracie Warner (Dave); brother Gary Fletcher (Sue); and several cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, January 26, 2013  11:00 AM  at the Republic Grade School Gymnasium, officiated by Scott Price, Mark Simmons, and Bill Reynolds with interment at the Republic Cemetery . Memorials may be made to the Curlew School music program.