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September 14, 2011 in City
Valley businessman Dick Behm dies at 80
Longtime resident dedicated to Spokane Valley
Spokane Valley businessman Dick Behm died Sept. 12, 2011.
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Longtime Spokane Valley businessman Richard “Dick” Behm Jr., a driving force in the city’s incorporation, died Monday at the age of 80 after suffering a stroke following heart-bypass surgery. His funeral is scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 3606 S. Schafer Road.
Behm had been a fixture in the community since he moved here in 1950 shortly after marrying his high school sweetheart, Ivah. His father founded Behm’s Valley Creamery and Behm took over the business in the early 1970’s when his father retired. He also owned a bottling and beverage company.
But Behm was best known for his advocacy. He worked hard on city incorporation and was such a reliable fixture at council meetings that he was named an honorary council member. He was a longtime member of the Spokane Valley Business Association and earlier this year was named the Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce volunteer of the year. He fought the federal government for 10 years to get the Chester Creek flood plain map altered so hundreds of residents and business owners no longer had to pay for expensive flood insurance.
Behm was “way involved from the word go,” said former Spokane Valley mayor Mike DeVleming. “I remember Dick sitting in the front row of literally every single meeting.”
He stayed friends with Behm after he left the council, DeVleming said. “A lot of times Dick and I disagreed on things, but Dick was the kind that wouldn’t hold it against you,” he said.
“He wasn’t afraid to give his opinion,” said councilman Bill Gothmann. “We’ve lost a tremendous advocate for Spokane Valley issues. We’re going to have a big hole in our hearts and in our city because of his passing.”
“He was a lot of things to a lot of different people,” said his son Rob Behm. “I would call him the defender of Spokane Valley. I don’t know anybody that had as much pride in the Valley as he did, other than my grandpa.”
Behm was heavily involved in the Lutheran Church and the Boy Scouts, serving as a Cub Master and a Scout Master. He recently got an award recognizing 60 years of involvement in Scouting, his son said. “He was very, very proud of that,” he said. “We are now a four-generation Scouting family.”
Behm celebrated his wedding anniversary earlier this year. “He was so in love with his wife, our mom, and would do anything for her,” his son said. “They were such a team and ran the creamery together.”
His daughter Karen Behm remembers fondly the numerous family road trips taken over the years. “I’ve always considered myself lucky to have Dad as my dad,” she said.
Behm was an avid outdoorsman who loved to fish and hunt. In recent years his family would occasionally bring up the subject of retirement. “He wouldn’t even talk with you about it,” his son Rob said. “It just wasn’t even an option for him. He was doing what he loved.”
But in recent months Behm had stopped attending every council meeting when his wife became ill, though he still came and addressed the council on topics he felt were important.
“It’s a struggle,” said his daughter. “She’s lost a lot of her vigor. She doesn’t know what she’s going to do without him.”
Behm is survived by his wife Ivah, daughter Karen Behm, sons Rob Behm and Ken Behm, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the Inland Northwest Council of the Boy Scouts of America, the American Diabetes Association or the charity of one’s choice.
Remembering heroes 
steptoe_fan on September 14 at 2:51 p.m.
one of my fav memories of growing up in the valley - when i had the money, riding the bike down to Sprague, on the N. side, to the valley creamery.
they had ice cream, you could buy by the scoop. the licorice ice cream ( colored black ) was just incredible. of course, you could buy milk and cream too - in the glass containers, with the cardboard milk bottle tops. the cold milk was so fresh and incredible.
is the valley creamery still there ? do they still scoop ice cream ?
licorice ?
carypdriskell on September 14 at 3:11 p.m.
Dick was a true advocate for big picture civic issues in Spokane Valley for many years. He was a passionate and energetic voice for what he (and usually many others) felt was important. His advocacy was gentlemanly, and he prided himself in knowing and sharing the relevant facts.
His family and friends can take pride in the fact Dick made Spokane Valley a much better place. His is a legacy to be proud of.
For that, I thank him.
ginniet on September 14 at 4:22 p.m.
I posted this on Facebook, but I want to add it here also. I grew up on “the street with the milk bottle”, and we spent a lot of time at Behm’s Creamery as kids, buying penny candy and Popsicles. They had licorice ice cream that left a black ring around my sister’s mouth when she ate it. Since my parents no longer live on Locust (they did until my dad died in 2006, and we moved Mom into Park Place, where she died in 2009), I haven’t been to Behm’s in many years. I believe there’s still a version of it there, but the milk bottle has been gone for a long time.
He and his dad were both Mr. Behm to us, as they both lived close by, and we knew that was a safe place to stop for candy on Halloween. He will be missed by the Valley.
SpokyDaBear on September 14 at 7:26 p.m.
I once bought an ice cream cone and found a bug in it. I took it back and dick told me that it was Bugs Bugsy flavor with it own special flavored bugs.
He told me the flavor needs more work and offered to give me a double scoop of any other flavor.
I would come back and ask him if the bug flavored ice cream was ready yet? And he would smile and say we need more bugs.
What a nice guy. He will be missed.
Irondan83 on September 15 at 7:41 p.m.
I remember when me and grandpa went hunting down by davenport, and we went out hunting and didn’t see anything all morning, then noon came along and we sat down and ate some of grandmas tuna fish sandwiches yummy. And we were talking and laughing and all of a sudden 4 does and a 4x4 point buck came running up behind us, “I said grandpa there’s a buck” and he grabbed the gun and turned around and shot right in-between us, he dropped the deer right in his tracks! My ears rang for 3 days straight, but it was the best hunting trip I ever went on with my grandpa dick! I love you grandpa and you will be missed soooooo much, especially when I’m hunting! Love, your grandson danny