Michael DeWayne "Mike" Duquette

Michael “Mike” Duquette of Spokane, Washington, lost his battle to cancer on Sunday, January 4, 2026, at the age of 67.

Mike was born in Madrid, Spain in 1958, to Richard and Lillian “Carol” (Ward) Duquette, while his family was stationed overseas. As part of an Air Force family, Mike grew up with a passport-ready childhood—living in Spain, California, England, New Jersey, the Philippines, Texas, and Kansas before the family ultimately settled in Great Falls, Montana, where Mike attended C.M. Russell High School.

In Great Falls, Mike married his high school sweetheart, Deloris Goerger, and together they built a life centered on family, hard work, sports, friends, and showing up for others. They raised three sons—Wes, Casey, and Tyler.

Mike built a long, steady career in management with a number of companies, including Spokane Pepsi and, prior to moving to Pepsi, as a district manager with convenience-stores Holiday and SuperAmerica.  Throughout his career Mike was known for his mentorship, reliability, leadership, and his ability to treat people with respect and fairness.

In 1988, Mike and Deloris moved from Montana to Spokane—a place he truly loved. Spokane was where he raised his family and formed lasting friendships and created the memories that mattered most. He cherished time at the family’s vacation home at Hayden Lake, a place that always felt like a reset button—full of laughter, meals together, and the kind of quiet and fun-filled moments that become family lore.

Mike’s passion in life was running and it brought him immense happiness which he shared with all of his sons.  In addition to running, one of Mike’s greatest joys was coaching his boys in baseball across many age groups. He wasn’t just a coach in the technical sense—he was the kind of coach kids remember - encouraging, steady, and invested. The ballfields were where his kids learned the game, and also where they learned about effort, teamwork, and doing the right thing even when no one’s watching.

Mike’s legacy is continued through the family he cherished. He is survived by his wife, Deloris Duquette; his sons Wes (Laurel) Duquette, Casey (Michelle) Duquette, and Tyler (Rachel) Duquette; his grandchildren Rhett (9), Walker (6), Drew (2), and a grandson on the way; and his brother Richard (Margo) Duquette. He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard Duquette and Lillian “Carol” Duquette.

Mike will be remembered for his deep devotion to family, his love of running and coaching, and the steady, loyal presence he brought to the lives of others. A memorial service for Mike will be held on Saturday, January 17, 2026 at 2 pm at Heritage Funeral and Cremation, 508 N Government Way, Spokane, WA.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a contribution to The Artisans, a Spokane non-profit agency whose mission was close to Mike's heart: https://www.theartisans.org/ways-to-give.html