Over the last month, four men who made lasting impacts on Spokane’s business landscape, culture, and community have died: Gordon Budke, Larry Brown, Frank Bouten, and Steve Strom.

Budke, a 2022 Spokane Journal of Business Icon, longtime accounting executive, business adviser, and community leader, whose work influenced generations of Inland Northwest organizations and economic development initiatives, died on Jan. 24. He was 84 years old.

Budke was born in Aberdeen, Washington, and grew up in Dayton, Washington. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis on accounting from Eastern Washington University in 1963.

Budke began his career at Spokane-based accounting firm Randall, Emery, Campbell & Parker, advancing from staff accountant to partner. After the firm merged with Coopers & Lybrand, he became managing partner of its Spokane office in 1981, leading a staff of dozens of employees while expanding services in regional businesses.

Budke was known for mentoring young accountants and advising entrepreneurs. Former RiverBank CEO Dan Byrne told the Journal in 2022 that Budke "had his thumbprint on a lot of organizations," crediting him with bringing a practical, solutions-oriented approach and helping business leaders understand complex financial issues.

He played a significant role in Spokane’s economic and civic development, contributing to initiatives and organizations such as Momentum '87, the Spokane Area Economic Development Council, Downtown Spokane Partnership, Leadership Spokane, Focus 21, and the New Century Plan. He was also appointed to the Washington Economic Development Finance Authority from 1989 to 1993. 

Budke launched the Spokane Business Incubation Center in 1986, providing financial planning and advisory services to startup companies. 

After retiring from Coopers & Lybrand in 1997, he established Budke Consulting PLLC and remained active as a corporate adviser and board member, including serving on the boards of Yoke’s Foods Inc. and Banner Bank, and on the Board of Trustees at Eastern Washington University.

Budke was widely respected as a business leader and community member whose quiet integrity and work ethic left a lasting impact on those who knew him. 

His extensive involvement in civic organizations has also been recognized and honored. In 2015, he was inducted into the Spokane Hall of Fame. Budke also received the Leadership Spokane King Cole Luminary Award and the EWU Lifetime Achievement Award, according to his obituary.

Budke is survived by his wife of 64 years, Rhoda; his three sons; and his grandchildren.

Separately, Brown, a prominent restaurateur and hospitality entrepreneur who helped shape the region's dining industry over four decades, died on Feb. 9. He was 80 years old.

A 2020 Spokane Journal of Business Icon, Brown graduated from the University of Washington and worked in land investments before returning to Spokane in the late 1960s and entering the hospitality sector.

He managed 11 Goofy's Taverns throughout the Inland Northwest before pursuing his own ventures, starting with the Fresh Air Tavern in the lead-up to Expo ’74, capitalizing on a period of rapid growth in downtown Spokane.

Over the following decades, he opened or acquired numerous establishments, including St. Regis Café, both locations of The Onion Bar & Grill, the Italian Kitchen, and the downtown and North Spokane Frank’s Diners, many of which became longstanding fixtures in the region’s restaurant landscape.

His businesses later operated under Landmark Restaurants, a group recognized for its focus on approachable dining and high-volume operations, according to Brown's obituary.

Brown also was deeply committed to community service, supporting organizations such as Second Harvest, Big Table, and the Hutton Settlement, often through fundraising events and in-kind contributions from his restaurants. 

Outside of work, Brown was known to spend time at Priest Lake, participating in outdoor recreation activities, traveling, and storytelling, and loved his family and personal relationships, according to his obituary. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Jan, along with his children, grandchildren, siblings, and extended family.

Frank Bouten, a longtime construction executive who helped lead one of the Inland Northwest’s most prominent family-owned contractors, died on Feb. 10. He was 90 years old.

Frank Bouten spent the bulk of his career at Bouten Construction Co., the company founded by his father, Belgian immigrant Gus Bouten. After joining the business full-time in 1960, Frank Bouten rose to serve as president in 1971 and guided the company through decades of growth until his retirement in 1996, according to his obituary.

His contributions in the Spokane area include facilities for Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Holy Family Hospital, the Ronald McDonald House, in addition to other public and private developments across the region.

Bouten is survived by his wife of 68 years, Sharon, as well as his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Steve Strom, an entrepreneur, technologist, and musician, died at age 61 on Jan. 25.

A Lewis & Clark High School graduate and University of Washington alumnus, Strom built a career working at or founding technology companies including Hewlett-Packard, Visio Corp., NewHomes.House Inc., Auctionable, and RowStream, says Todd Sullivan, a longtime friend and business partner.

Sullivan remembers Strom as a creative problem solver who energized those around him and embraced new ventures with optimism.

Beyond business, Strom was a drummer and co-founder of the band GS3. 

He is survived by his wife, Katherine, and his daughter.

Shortly before passing, Sullivan says Strom shared his outlook on life: “Life is short, live it; Love is rare, grab it; Anger is destructive, release it; Fear is inevitable, face it; Memories are sweet, cherish them.”