Obituary: Fredrick (Rick) Earl Thynes June 30, 1950 - July 4, 2025

Fredrick (Rick) Earl Thynes, 75, born June 30, 1950 to Erling and Jeanne Thynes in Petersburg, Alaska, died July 4, 2025 at his home in Ketchikan.

He grew up, along with three younger brothers - Lloyd, Ken and Russell - in Petersburg and attended Petersburg Elementary and Petersburg High School, graduating in 1968. During high school, he met his future wife, Margie White, and they married July 12, 1969. They had two daughters, Kelly Lynn and Heather Kristen.

Their first few months of marriage, Rick worked at P.F.I. and then was offered a job at Petersburg Electric as a lineman. During that time, the employees voted to join the I.B.E.W. union. They were all let go.

He then worked at the Snettisham project up near Juneau. Later that summer, he was notified of a lineman apprentice position in Ketchikan. He went to Ketchikan for an interview and was hired under the stipulation that he would get his lineman certification. Agreeing to attend classes in Anchorage at the next scheduled time, he moved his family to Ketchikan in July of 1973 and began his electrical career with Ketchikan Public Utilities.

He never did go to Anchorage for the classes. Every time that he would be scheduled for class, he would get ready to go and it would be canceled. After this happened, two or three times, he was told: "Forget it, go take the test in Juneau." He went to Juneau and passed with flying colors.

He worked with Ketchikan Public Utilities for 35 years, retiring at the age of 58. He went from an apprentice lineman to "Apparatus and substation technician." He loved planning and designing the big projects from the ground up. He was known for his excellent work and productivity. He always wanted things to "look good" and sometimes as a joke would line all the nuts and bolts up perfectly.

Rick loved the water, being on it or under it. He first began SCUBA diving right after high school. When the regulations began getting tighter and he was unable to get his air tanks filled, he quit for a few years. One day a young man, a SCUBA instructor, asked whether he wanted to get his certification. Once he got that there was no stopping. He continued on to become a Divemaster with a local dive shop, and up to Specialty and Technical diving with mixed gases. He also got a "rebreather." Doing deep dives were always a thrill.

His deepest dive, with his good friends, was on a boat that had sank. At the boat owner's request, the goal was to attach lines on it and raise it. The depth of the dive was 300 feet. He always said: "I've been to a place on Earth that no one else has ever been."

In 2011 he and Margie purchased a 37-foot motorsailer, the Asterix, and brought it from Juneau to Ketchikan. This became a labor of love. He loved being out on the water and spending time, shrimping, crabbing, fishing or just anchored up in a favorite spot.

Rick's girls were his pride and joy. He watched them raise their children and become productive, beautiful young women. They are a credit to his memory.

Rick loved the Lord and became a member of Clover Pass Community Church in 1976.

He was preceded in death by his father, Erling Thynes, and mother, Jeanne Thynes. He is survived by his wife, Margie, of 55 years; daughters, Kelly Thynes (Matt), Heather Thynes-Woodruff (Robert); six grandchildren, Kelsey Betts-Alvarado (Juan), Alec Leighton, Danalyn Gravengoed (Joel), Aleksi Leard (Ryan), Dennis Kimbal (Alyssa), Tanner Sanders (Kalie) and 11 great grandchildren: Zoey, Madison, Everleigh, Benton, Maggie, Sam, Jude, Fenris, Everett, Leighton and Elloise.

He also is survived by brothers Lloyd (Yvonne), Ken (Joann), and Russell (Dana), and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

A funeral service was held Saturday, July 12, 2025, at Clover Pass Community Church.

Rick's remains were cremated.

Memorial donations may be made to Clover Pass Community Church to be used at its discretion.