Wednesday, April 16, 2008

'Celebration of Life' planned for Randy Hess

Body of whitewater outfitter found in Snake River Canyon


By EXPRESS STAFF
Express Staff Writer

Randy Hess

A "Celebration of Life" is scheduled for Saturday for longtime Ketchum resident and business owner Randy Hess, whose body was found Friday in the Snake River Canyon below the Hansen Bridge near Twin Falls.

Friends are asked to start gathering at 6:30 p.m. at the River Run Lodge in Ketchum. The Celebration will start at 7 p.m. Friends are asked to drop off photographs of Hess by Thursday at White Otter Outfitters above the Coffee Grinder in Ketchum for a display that will be presented at the celebration.

Hess was the owner of White Otter Outfitters, a whitewater rafting business.

"Randy was something of an icon in this community," said longtime friend and business associate Becky Klassen. "We're expecting 300 to 500 people at this celebration. He just had a tremendous impact on a lot of people's lives."

Jerome County Search and Rescue found the body of Hess around noon on Friday. He is believed to have been scouting the river for rafting excursions.

The Jerome County Sheriff's Office reported that Hess apparently fell while walking in the area. There was no indication of foul play.

A search was initiated on Thursday after Hess' vehicle was found in a parking lot on the north side of the bridge.

A press release provided by friends of Hess describes him as "a larger-than-life character and community member. Randy had been much loved in the Wood River Valley for the past 25 years."

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Hess was also a "larger-than-life member of the Idaho whitewater community," the press release states. "Randy was equally known for his generosity and willingness to donate rafting trips for every community charitable event along with his participation in a multitude of volunteer activities.

"It was Randy who tackled the challenge of gaining the necessary permits needed for the dangerous rock obstruction removed from the "Narrows" section (of the Salmon River), which often would trap a raft resulting in massive rafting jams blocking the river for all other traffic. It was Randy's actions that made the upper Salmon a safer river for all to enjoy."

Hess was involved in numerous Wood River Valley community activities. He provided rafting trips for children through the Galena Lodge summer camp program and volunteered for the Boulder Mountain Tour and this year's Winter Special Olympics.

"His smile and sense of humor will be sorely missed," the press release states.

Hess was born in St. Louis, Mo., in 1948, and received a master's degree in forestry from Southern Illinois University. In addition to working in many outdoor programs in the Midwest and South, Hess worked on oilrigs in the Gulf of Mexico.

Hess leaves behind a brother, Terry Hess, who lives in North Carolina, and a sister, Linda Larkin, in New York City.

In lieu of flowers, contributions are requested to be made in Hess' name at either Idaho Rivers United, Randy Hess Memorial Fund, Box 633, Boise, ID 83701, or the Animal Shelter of the Wood River Valley, Box 1496, Hailey, ID 83333.




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