Kim Dee Walker

Kim Walker, 65, passed away October 5th, 2023, after an heroic three-year battle with cancer. 

Kim was born in Spokane to Kaye and Shirley Walker, and was a happy, intelligent and rambunctious child. His father was a PGA golf professional, and Kim received his first set of golf clubs when he was 5 years old. This was at the Shoshone Golf and Country Club, where he and his older sister played golf together every day possible, having quite the competition. They also worked on the course together as kids — mowing greens, raking traps, cutting cups, etc. — and were either best friends or worst enemies, depending on the day and the scorecard results. 

Kim’s family moved to Liberty Lake when his father became the Head Professional at that golf course. Kim attended Central Valley High school, was on both the golf and wrestling teams, and there made several close, life-long friends. 

Because of his love of golf, after graduating from Central Valley, Kim entered the apprenticeship program of the PGA. He worked as an Assistant Pro at Liberty Lake for some few years, then became Head Professional at the Moscow Elks Club.  There he started a family, having 2 sons (Ben and Mitch) with his dear wife, Debbie Femreite. Later, he took the job at the course in Fort Benton, and a while after that, moved to become the Head Professional at Chewelah Golf and Country Club.  He said a key draw was the skiing, as he was an avid skier for much of his life. (He especially enjoyed the adventure of helicopter skiing.)

At Chewelah, he spent many years pouring his heart into growing and improving the golf course and golf community. Under his guidance and hard work, it went from a sleepy course using an old farmhouse as a clubhouse, to an impressive 27 hole course with a large new clubhouse. 

At their retirement, Kim’s parents moved to live on the course at Chewelah, and they had wonderful times together. Kim really struggled when his father died suddenly, as they were so close. He looked for a venue change to get out of his grief, moving to Arizona, where he was the Head Professional at a large course called ‘Sundance’. 

After working there a few years, he started a Golf School, teaching in the winter and taking students on golf tours to the British Virgin Islands and Bermuda. Additionally, he spent his summers running a small resort at Loon Lake, as a help to his mother, who had remarried. There he indulged his love of cooking by running the restaurant, and hosting dinner-boat tours on the lake aboard the fabulous ‘Loon Tiki’. 

Kim took an early retirement at the beginning of the Covid pandemic, and moved to Spirit Lake, where he had a cozy cabin in the woods. He enjoyed boating, fishing, wood-working, and playing golf with his great buddies from high school. 

After being diagnosed with a serious cancer (the same week his mother died) Kim’s character shone through with brilliance. He was strong, kind, optimistic, inspirational, and cared more for the feelings of others than his own. For a long time, he didn’t want people to know he was sick, because he didn’t want them to ‘feel sad’.  He kept that same kind of attitude for the entire, 3 year battle. 

How can one do justice to any life with mere words, especially someone like Kim? His personality was larger than life — outgoing, fun-loving, hard-working and hilarious. He had more talent and creativity than he knew what to do with. Not only was Kim a fantastic cook, but he also painted, drew, sculpted with metal, and did fine wood-working. He was a wonderful photographer, having photos published in magazines and on scorecards.  He loved to create and build. Kim loved to make people laugh, and was funny without really trying.  He loved '67 Camaros (having 5 over the years including the rare RS and a deep red convertible).  He was crazy about music. Kim threw wonderful parties, was always the coolest guy, and at the center of every gathering he attended. Kim loved all things tropical, and lived the ‘Jimmy Buffett life-style’. He wore khaki shorts and Aloha shirts in all seasons, and the only time you’d see him in something else was for a PGA meeting, or a funeral. Along with his public persona, he also had a private and tender side. He was a wonderful father to his two sons, he had strong, life-long friendships, he was a caring and reliable son to his parents, and was his sister’s best friend throughout the years. 

Kim is survived by his sons Ben Walker (Madeline), and Mitch Walker (Laina), his sister Melody Pfeifer (Grant), five grandchildren, and his dear friends. 

The family is so grateful to the medical teams that supported Kim in his illness and to his great friend Mary for her loving care.

Many themes carried thru Kim's life:  love of family; outdoor fun and adventure; appreciation of natural and artistic beauty; laughter and creativity.  An overarching theme was the joy he felt in helping others to have fun, play better golf, eat a fine meal, be adventurous, and to laugh. 

You can honor Kim's memory by doing what you enjoy and helping others to achieve their potential.