Benjamin Alan Heinrichs passed away unexpectedly on Friday, May 20, 2022 in Spokane, Washington and left a gaping hole in our hearts.

He was born on March 10 ^th , 1972 to Lynne and Alana Heinrichs in Charleston, West Virginia. He grew up just outside of Priest River, Idaho with his five siblings: Lori, Andrew, Alex, Matthew, and Amanda. Like his brothers, he loved sports, and often played games of catch and the made-up game of "sock" ball in their yard. Additionally, he played Little League baseball. He also spent time with many of the neighbor kids in the surrounding Vay-Edgemere area.

He grew close to the Riggs family, especially John Jr., and was devastated at his unexpected passing in 1995. He was also close to the Hesters, Petersons, and many other families close by.

Ben started his working career logging in the woods with this brothers. He could drive massive logging equipment up steep embankments with ease, while hauling several huge trees behind him.

Additionally, he was a very skilled driver and received his driver's license at the early age of 14 years old. He went on to get his commercial driver's license and in 2003 became a truck driver. He started out as a long haul driver and later changed to a local company, Fastway, in Spokane, Washington. He was able to maneuver an eighteen-wheeler through the busy and cramped streets of New York City, and drive for miles across all kinds of terrain. He later got an offer to work for Safeway where he was until present day. There he made many new friends that enriched his life.

In 1997 he started dating his longtime girlfriend Christy Folsom. They met in St. Maries Idaho at the Paul Bunyan Days.

Ben had many interests and hobbies. He enjoyed fantastic James Bond thrillers and the funny antics of Mr. Bean. He loved the British comedy series Only Fools and Horses and would often talk about an episode that made him laugh.

He enjoyed good food, especially a good steak. Steak from the Wolf Lodge was his favorite.

He liked to shoot pool with his bother Alex and good friend Andy. He was also a Seattle sports fan who loved to watch Mariners and Seahawks games.

Recently, he found a passion for crypto currency and loved to talk to friends and family about it. His face would light up when speaking about any new coin/token he had heard about.

Ben frequently vacationed in California visiting his sisters Lori and Amanda and nephew Reagan. He loved to visit places like Carmel-by-the-Sea, San Francisco, Yosemite National Park, Hearst Castle, San Diego, and many other places on his trips there. During his most recent visit, he explored Bodega Bay. During the excursion he got to see the beautiful beaches, eat fish and chips, and enjoyed salt water taffy from one of the many candy shops in town. A bit of a movie fan and always interested in history, he had been excited to see the church and schoolhouse that was in the famous Hitchcock film, The Birds.

Ben was a gentle and extremely patient soul who would have helped anyone with anything. He was a dutiful son who helped his parents with any task or chore that was needed. He would help them to weed eat and mow their lawn. Recently, he was looking into buying a riding lawnmower for them, to help make their lives easier. He, along with his brother Alex, would get, split and, chop firewood for them almost every Sunday. He would always lend a helping hand to his sisters when he visited them by repairing broken things around their house. He was the Joseph of the family; compassionate, kind, generous and forgiving.  The family will discover more and more with his absence what a solid rock he was, and through this heartbreaking ordeal God will use the pain to refine the characters of the family.

He had a dry sense of humor and could tell and re-tell hilarious stories. He had some really funny ones related to his different daily delivery stops as a truck driver.

He always dreamed one day of buying a house where it was warm and sunny when he retired. He loved the heat and looked forward to a time when he didn't have to endure cold and harsh winters. He also planned on traveling internationally. He planned on taking a motorcycle trip across Australia, and that anyone who wanted to come along was welcome.

More than anything Ben loved spending time with his nephews Reagan, Philip, and Grant, and his niece Audrey. His niece and nephews were the highlight of his life. He always looked forward to seeing them whenever he got the chance. He always spoke reverently and lovingly about their latest antics and never forgot a birthday because they were so special to him.

Benjamin was a shining light to all who knew him. He was a beloved son, brother, uncle, and friend.

Ben was the 2 ^nd child in a family of six siblings; he is survived by his girlfriend Christy Folsom, parents: Lynne and Alana Heinrichs and siblings: Lori Heinrichs (Sang Tran) nephew Reagan Tran, Andrew Heinrichs (Betsy LaVoie), Alex Heinrichs, Matthew Heinrichs (Lorie Heinrichs), nephews Philip and Grant and niece Audrey Heinrichs; maternal aunts and cousins; Rosalie Bartee Lewis, cousins Rusty and Randy Lewis, Barbara Bartee Pennell cousins Jeffery Sheets, David Alan Dial, Timothy Adkins, Nichole Adkins Zammarron, paternal cousins; Damon Heinrichs, Sheryl Heinrichs Hicks, Daniel Heinrichs, Sonia Hardy, Suzanne Heinrichs, JoDee Morales, Jaime Todd.

Ben's funeral service will be held on June 7 ^th , 2022 at the Edgemere Seventh-Day Adventist Church at 1PM.