Otto Carl Vieth (aka Sonny) was born to Velma (Coleman) and Otto Vieth on March 16, 1935, in the town of Speed, Missouri. He died on July 19, 2023. Carl’s family eked out a hardscrabble life in the years of the Great Depression. Carl often told stories of the resourcefulness of his mother who raised the four children on her own after the departure of her husband.
Brother Clyde left home at 16 to find work at Grand Coulee Dam. In 1947 he scraped together $50 and sent it to his mother so she, Norma and Carl could start a new life with him in Washington state while sister June stayed behind with her husband.
Carl attended Grand Coulee Dam and Coulee Dam high schools. He competed in basketball and distinguished himself in his junior year as District Champion in Mixed Doubles Tennis in 1952. His doubles partner was Lavina Smeltzer.
Carl married Lavina in 1954 and stayed that way for the next 68 years. Vicki was born in 1957, followed by Pam in 1960. Carl was a loving father and husband and was known by all to be a fair, honest man.
Carl started work at Safeway as a teenage box boy and moved his way up to store manager by the age of 22. He did such a good job that the company asked him to open a new store in Omak in 1965. Carl packed up the family and moved to the Okanogan Valley. Where they got horses.
From 1967-1977, the family participated in the Ghost Riders equestrian drill team demonstrations and competitions traveling throughout North Central and Eastern Washington and British Columbia. During those years Carl was also a member of the Okanogan County Sheriff Posse.
After managing the Omak Safeway for 15 years Carl struck out on his own, acquiring a Culligan Water franchise in 1972. He and Lavina retired in 1986 and spent the next 36 years living full time in their motorhome, spending winters in Yuma, Arizona, and traveling throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Carl was a hunter and fisherman and loved packing into the high country on horseback and exploring winter trails on snowmobiles with family and friends. He told stories about his adventures throughout his life. He was a fine, meticulous backyard mechanic who could tell you the specs of the transmission of his first car. Until his final days he expressed regret for the sale of his beloved 1967 Pontiac Bonneville convertible.
Carl is survived by his wife, Lavina; daughters Vicki Vieth and Pam Vieth; granddaughters Misty (Wells) Chesterfield and Amanda Wells; great-grandchildren Kristy (Kristina) Vieth, Ean Chesterfield, Shelby Chesterfield, Alison Jean (AJ) Dickinson, Audrey Dickinson; and a good handful of nieces and nephews.
