Our wonderful Dennis died on Sunday, October 18, at age 77 after his fourth courageous battle with cancer.

He was described by his incredible Dr. Kotal as “larger than life.” Dennis never knew a stranger, loved to tell stories, was so very generous and always ready to help anyone. He truly loved life, his wife, family, friends, church and appreciated all that had been given him.

Dennis was born in Yakima, on May 20, 1938 and attended Holy Rosary School. In 1956 Dennis moved to Seattle and went to work for the Boeing Company. He furthered his education in a college program and became a supervisor in charge of a large production shop. He left Boeing after 10 years, became a real estate agent, pleasure boat salesman, and in 1975 with his entrepreneurial spirit, started his own business, Marine Sanitation. He owned and operated it successfully for 35 years.

He was on the Marine Trade Association Board for many years. He married Sally in 1984, and they decided to move to Shelter Bay in 1995, where Dennis became very involved in the community and especially Sacred Heart Church. He served on the board at Shelter Bay and at Sacred Heart Church.

There are so many who will miss him, especially his wife Sally and her son Mike, his daughters Sheila and her husband Matt Kramer, Maureen and her husband Burl Todd, and Karen Langridge; his son Alan Benny; his sisters Kathy Massoth and her husband Bruce Edmonfon, Jan and her husband John Glenn; his brother Terry and wife Christine Massoth. He also leaves his grandchildren Lisa and her husband Craig, Kevin and his wife April, Joann and her husband Jacob, Teresa and her husband Marcus, and Lucy, Jerad, Kaleb, Tara, Derek, and Kyle; his nephews Mathew, Nicholas and Hal; four great-grandchildren, great friends and his dog Riley.

His service will be held at Sacred Heart Church at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 30, 413 Douglas St., LaConner, followed by a celebration of his life at Maple Hall in LaConner from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Friendship House Family Shelter, Mount Vernon. Arrangements are under the care of Hawthorne Funeral Home in Mount Vernon.