Lamont mayor dies suddenly

Steven Ulrich, Lamont mayor, passed away unexpectedly June 6 while out for a morning run. He was 58.

Ulrich was born in Colfax to Harland and Connie Stelzer Ulrich and grew up in St. John. He participated in track and cross-country and held the school record in the two-mile even for many years.

He attended Eastern Washington University where he earned a degree in education and was a member of the EWU cross country national team.

He met his wife Catherine while teaching in Roseburg, Ore., and the couple moved to St. John in 1996. He worked at Empire Disposal, Whitman County jail and Stepping Stone in Moscow before settling into a position at Lakeland Village in Medical Lake were he worked for 20 years with duel diagnosed patients.

His love for running took him to many events including the Portland marathon, Bloomsday and St. John Hog Jog.

He leaves behind his wife, three children and a grandson. Also surviving are his mother and two siblings.

Bob Falkenstein, Lamont city councilman and mayor pro-tem, has agreed to take over as mayor following the death of Mayor Ulrich.

Ulrich became mayor in Nov. 2014 after joining the council earlier that year.

The Lamont council gathered Monday night for a regularly scheduled meeting.