A Legacy of Care: Randy Mickelsen’s Gift to Future Generations

For longtime Spokane resident and retired educator Randy Mickelsen, nature has always been more than scenery – it’s been a place of peace and reflection.

Randy’s connection to nature began decades ago at Waikiki Springs before the Inland Northwest Land Conservancy (INLC) acquired the property. Born and raised in Spokane, Randy taught math at Mead High School for 37 years before retiring in 2021. As a cross-country coach at Mead in the late 1980s, he brought his athletes to Waikiki for workouts, drawn by the quiet beauty of the area. In retirement, he returned to the same trails, this time with his dog, Lola, by his side. There, he met INLC staff and saw firsthand the care and improvements being made to the land.

“Waikiki Springs will always hold a special place for me – it’s simply in my backyard,” Randy shares. “Nature is my quiet place, a place for me to reflect, think, pray, and meditate.”

For Randy, this place carries a deep meaning. After his nephew passed away suddenly, Randy placed a bench in his memory in a spot at Waikiki that the two often visited together. “It will always hold a special place in my heart for him,” Randy says. “We don’t know who will walk these trails in the future and benefit from the efforts to preserve the beauty and nature we are all so blessed to enjoy.”

That desire to protect Waikiki led Randy to include Inland Northwest Land Conservancy in his estate plans. “I want to make sure the lands around Spokane can be protected for future generations to enjoy. It would be too easy for these spaces to be developed and lost,” he said.

He hopes that his gift will help purchase and protect more land, ensuring that future generations have the same opportunities to explore and enjoy their beauty. To anyone considering a similar estate gift, Randy offers encouragement: “This is a chance to leave a legacy that protects our public lands in Spokane. It’s simple to do, and its impact will last forever.”

Looking ahead, Randy imagines an Inland Northwest with “an abundance of places to go and explore regardless of the time of year.” He hopes his contribution will be remembered not by his name, but by the joy people feel while experiencing the lands he helped protect.

“Knowing that our lands are protected for all to enjoy – that’s the legacy I want to leave.”


What Will Your Legacy Protect?
For more than 30 years, Inland Northwest Land Conservancy has been caring for the forests, rivers, and open spaces you love. With a simple act of planning, you can help that care continue for generations to come.

By including INLC in your estate plan –

• A percentage of your estate
• A life insurance policy
• Appreciated assets like real estate or stocks

-you make a lasting difference, forever rooted in this place you love.

Find out how you can make a difference today.

Already included local conservation in your legacy plan? Let us know so we can thank you!