Wayne Siefke, 57, formerly of Libby
<p>Wayne "Buddy" Siefke</p>
Wayne Siefke, known by his friends as “Buddy,” died at his home in Rockport, Wash., on Oct. 17, 2012, two days before his 58th birthday.
He was born in Libby, where he grew up before moving to Oregon during his high school years. He graduated high school in McMinnville, Ore, in 1972.
A carpenter by trade, Buddy was also a lifelong animal lover and a gifted horse trainer who ran his own stable in Bothell, Wash., during the 1990s with his partner Ralph Armitage who died in 1995.
He also loved showing miniature horses at shows nationwide. He was a member of the American Miniature Horse Association during those years.
He moved to Seattle after living in the Bay area, including San Francisco and Sacramento in the 1980s. He finally settled in Rockport in 2004.
An avid outdoorsman all his life, Buddy was dedicated to his garden and landscaping at his home, as well as an energetic mountain climber and hiker during the past 10 years of his life.
He is survived by his partner, Brian Hagerty; his sisters Jeanette Cummings, Shirley Hirst and Diane Siefke, all from Libby, and his brothers Tim Siefke, Bruce Siefke and Johnny Ray Siefke and his step-mother Trudy Siefke, also in Montana.
Donations on his behalf may be made to the Bailey Boushay House in Seattle, Wash.