On August 17th, 2024, Snohomish County Volunteer Search and Rescue, Inc. hosted its annual Volunteer Recognition and Awards Picnic at our headquarters, Taylor’s Landing, a cherished tradition that brings together our steadfast volunteers, their families, and associated members of the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office. This year’s event was particularly special because it honored the hard work and unwavering dedication of our volunteers, both past and present.

The picnic provided a warm atmosphere, filled with camaraderie and appreciation. Families gathered to celebrate their loved ones’ contributions, and special guests joined in to recognize the vital role these volunteers play in our community.

As part of the celebration, SCVSAR presented their annual Tibke Award to this year’s recipient, but rather than an individual, the award this year went to the hard-working SAR Food Truck crew. These devoted members feed everyone on rescue and recovery missions that can sometimes extend for multiple days. The Tibke Award is SCVSAR’s highest award, established in memory of Terry Tibke, a dedicated volunteer of SCVSAR and is an annual award that honors exceptional contributions to SCVSAR.

From injured hikers, to dementia walkaways, to rescue/ recovery missions, the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office would not be able to operate at its current capacity without the wonderful volunteers of SCVSAR. The organization is made up of over 400 extremely skilled volunteers who have collectively donated 13,400 hours of their time to assist with 143 missions since August 2023. We are honored to work side by side with these individuals and to say that we are grateful for them is an understatement.

Alongside the Tibke award, a highlight of this year’s event was the recognition of volunteers who reached significant milestones in their service anniversaries. These dedicated members have demonstrated exceptional commitment and resilience, often going above and beyond to support our mission.

The honored volunteers included the following:

10 Years: Erin Renshaw, Bill Buck, Lucas Valentine, Teresia Sayler, Debra Draper, Wendy Whitmer, Brad Jaffke, Micah Nehring, Chad Henry, Joyce Wilson, and Peter Templin

15 Years: June Mansfield, Heidi McKeon, Richard Duncan, Yana Radenska, Joshua Warren, and Donald Campo

Over 20 years: Jennifer Stollwerck (1995), Danny Wikstrom (1996), Edwin Prada (1997), Randy Fay (1999), Curt Mills (1999), John Morton (1999), Eric Lembke (2000), Carl Johnson (2001), Nikki Lembke (2001), Mike Loney (2002), and Seth Stone (2002)

Over 30 years: Ken Ohlsen (1988), and Kevin Andringa (1991)

Over 40 years: Paul Moutray (1981)

50 Years: Stephen Klett (1974)
Over 50 years: Ken Lakey (1971)
60 Years: Frank Dahlman (1964)

Each of these individuals embodies the core values of our organization, and their
contributions have made a lasting impact on the lives of countless individuals in
Snohomish County.
As we reflect on another successful year, we remain grateful for the commitment of our
volunteers, whose efforts ensure the safety and well-being of our community. The
annual picnic serves as a reminder of the strength and unity that comes from our
collective mission. We look forward to another year of service, teamwork, and
community engagement, “That Others May Live”.