Ann Becker Nilsson
Patricia Odberg
Marilyn J. Eichner

MEMORIALS

     Ocie was born Aug. 22, 1915, in Ash County, North Carolina, to Joseph                       L.Vannoy and Lillian Colvard Vannoy. He was the youngest of 9 children.                         His mother died when he was 7 years old.

     He came West at age 15 with his father and older brother Allie during                        the Great Depression. After a few years in the timber industry near                                Orofino, including driving a lumber truck, the Vannoy brothers began                                                      farming. They rented approximately 1,000 acres near                                                    Cavendish, which they farmed for several years with                                                       horses.
                             Ocie married Helen Bryant of Orofino on Dec. 19,                                                       1938.  In 1946 they moved from the rental property to a farm they                                 had purchased near Cavendish. Ocie loved farming and expierenced the                           complete evolution of farming equipment and methods from farming with horses to    the equipment used today.
                                     

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                             Helen was born April 16, 1919, in Orofino, to Andrew Hamilton Bryant and Mamie Sumpter Bryant. The family lived in the Glenwood area, and she was the third of four children. As a high school senior, and a short time after graduation from Orofino High School, Helen worked as a waitress in Malloy's House of Sweets in Orofino.
     Helen often prepared meals for farm crews in a house with no electricity, indoor plumbing or telephone. There were many stories of critters, snakes, ornery horses and mules, and having to make do with little. Helen related that the early days of farming had been a hard life, but it had been a good life.
     Helen and family attended the Cavendish Methodist Church, a log church built by the community in the late '30s. She was blessed through her church involvement over the years both spiritually and socially.
 
     In 1946, Helen and Ocie purchased a farm property nearby, where they lived and farmed until retirement in 1981. They continued to live at Cavendish until 1995, when they moved to Lewiston. 
     Helen had many interests including gardening, crocheting, fishing, camping, boating and traveling with a camp trailer. The Vannoys spent many winter months in Yuma, Ariz., living in their trailer, and later in a home they purchased there. Helen has been an avid fan of Gonzaga basketball for many years and never missed watching a game on TV.

     Helen, who died in 2017, was preceded in death by her husband, Ocie, in 2007; brothers Delbert Bryant and Faye Bryant; and a sister, Neva Wilson.
Helen is survived by her daughter, Sandra Enger and husband Darl of Missoula, Mont.; son Robert and wife Marolyn of Greenville, S.C.; grandchildren Susan Hawkins and husband Jeff of Nampa, Joseph Vannoy of Kirkland, Wash., Todd Vannoy of Redmond, Wash., Mike Enger and wife Debra of Walla Walla, and Michelle Snobar and husband Sam of Seeley Lake, Mont.; and 10 great-grandchildren. There are several nieces and nephews in the Lewiston area, as well as her sister-in-law, Edith Vannoy, and dear friends Carley and Don Lawrence.

Ocie and Helen  Vannoy

Leonard and Virginia Cole

   Virginia Faye Cuddy Cole was born Feb. 3, 1934, in Southwick, to                               Coy (Arnie) Cuddy and Christena Southwick Cuddy. She grew up on                                the family farm in the Southwick area, attending school in Southwick                              and Kendrick. She enjoyed many good times and had great mem-                                    ories of growing up on the farm with her siblings, and the busy                                    day-to-day life on the farm.

   In 1952, Virginia married Leonard Cole of Cavendish and they began                            their lives in Cheney, Washington, while Leonard attended school.                              After living in Cavendish for a short time they moved to Lewiston.                            Virginia began her career in Lewiston at St. Joseph Regional Medical                            Center and later worked for various medical doctors in the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley prior to working at Long Machinery and retiring from Nez Perce County. While working for Nez Perce County, Virginia was involved in organizing the elections that took place in the county. She enjoyed this part of her job greatly and truly appreciated the election process.
     Virginia enjoyed civic affairs and was actively engaged in the political process. Indeed, many political planning meetings were held at the home to assist those eager to pursue a political career, to plan campaigns, or simply ponder current issues. She was a proud Democrat and deeply concerned for the well-being of others and the future of our young people. In 2001, Virginia received statewide recognition when she received the Dottie Stimpson Award recognizing her demonstrated perseverance, persistence, patience, passion, commitment and leadership in work on behalf of the Democratic Women's Caucus and the Democratic Party.
   Throughout her life, Virginia was full of laughter and loved jokes and pulling pranks on her family and numerous friends. She enjoyed camping, fishing, crafts, music and played piano for many family sing-alongs. She and Leonard were known for their hospitality and entertaining at 3101 to celebrate life events for family and friends and to simply share stories and good conversation.
   Virginia and Leonard celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2002 and shared many happy years together working side by side to raise their two daughters, Debbie Freeze (husband Ralph), and Barbara Fry (husband Warren Volkman). It should be noted that Virginia was especially fond of her sons-in-law. Virginia was instrumental in helping build two houses for the family and establishing the family garage door business. Leonard passed away in 2008 and Virginia passed on March 13, 2015.
Virginia cherished her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and loved laughing, crafting, coloring, baking and just spending time with them. Cori Pearson (husband Brian) and Faron Fry (husband Frank Kimberling) were her sidekicks, learning about the serious, but mostly fun side of life, from their grandmother. They spent many hours together and had a very special relationship, mastering the art of practical joking, pranking and general mischief making. Her other grandchildren, arriving later in life, were all just as special to her and she loved every one of them, as they did her, Jason (wife Shelli) Freeze, Jon (wife Staci) Freeze, Melissa Lambert, Robin Freeze, Aleisha Autrey, Tiffany Carmouche and Adrienne Volkman.
Great-grandchildren brought a new joy of life with their arrival, Gracie, Phranqie, Faylee, Michelina, Jessica, Samantha, Kierstin, Austyn, Tristin, Sammy and Kacie, Jacklyn and David, Ashley and Elise and Jaxon. 

Nellie Millard

Dorothy King Silflow

     A long-time Kendrick resident, Nellie Fry Millard, passed away                                Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022, at the age of 91. She was born to Clarence                                  and Frances Fry, the youngest of nine siblings. Mom spent her                                      early years on Gold Hill. Later the family moved into town where                                  she graduated from Kendrick High School. She married her high                                    school sweetheart, J. Herbert Millard, and had three kids, Abbie,                                  Cynthia and Brenden. There is a lot of life in her 91 years, but                                      Nellie would focus her history on the people in her life who                                          made it so fulfilling.

     Nellie lived in the Kendrick, Juliaetta and Lewiston area her entire life, except for a short stint in California. She was proud to be part of the community and a working member of many businesses in the area. Mom was hardworking and not one to sit around. She had a business mind and liked to try new things. You may have encountered her at Mead & Howard Lumber Co., Fleming Truck & Equipment Co., Gem State Lumber Co., the Cafe, Phil’s Food City, bartending, paper carrier, real estate manager, Kendrick/Juliaetta School District especially as your school bus driver, or during a visit to That Place.
She liked being part of the close-knit community as she was able to walk down the street to the store with a stop along the way for some “kibitzing.” She enjoyed her coffee gatherings at the corner booth with the gang to discuss the topics of the day. She was always pleased to meet up with her classmates. She talked about Friday night dinners with a group of friends or nights of cards or socializing.
 
     In 1988, Nellie reacquainted with her high school friend, Walt McCall. They established a remaining life bond of traveling and camping, evening martinis, dinner discussions and enjoying the hunt for treasures at auctions and yard sales.
Nellie loved people and taught her children to be very accepting to all, something she attributed to her mother. Few were a stranger to Mom. She was truly interested in hearing “your” story. She often sought out individuals in a group that appeared to be just watching the fun and invited them to join in. She looked out for the “underdog” in situations and would work to make sure all got a “fair shake.”

     Nellie was creative and enjoyed finding new ways to use her junk (often talking others into helping) and sewing. She was a storyteller and looked to find the fun in everything she did regardless of the circumstances. She was young at heart through her entire life. She enjoyed playing practical jokes, finding that perfect costume, evenings playing cards, telling jokes and dancing. If you were a friend or family member of Nellie’s, you likely have a story or two as part of one of her adventures. A planned event or simple drive may have started out innocent, but by the time you got home there were tales of interesting characters, extraordinary experiences, an unexpected overnight stay, getting lost or hauling something home.

     Family was important to Nellie and she often hosted family gatherings, which were large and filled with delicious homemade specialties. She was proud of her kids. She impressed the importance of education and taught us lessons in life (sometimes unbeknown to us). She raised her children to be strong and independent, letting us make our own mistakes but always ready to provide support.
     Her legacy lives on through her kids, Brenden and his wife Lisa, Abbie and Cynthia, along with five grandchildren John, Emily, Tylor, Ryan and Bryson. Her greatest enjoyment was time with family and friends. Her goal every day was to make one person laugh, so we hope there is a memory for all who knew her that you will remember and laugh.

Donald & Barbara Benscoter

William F. Towne

     David Allen “Frog” Hutcheson, 69, of Kendrick, passed away                              Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in                                    Lewiston.

     David was born Jan. 9, 1954, to Robert James and Vera Rosa-                                      mond (Ulinder) Hutcheson, in Kendrick. He attended grade school in                                  Juliaetta and graduated from Kendrick High School in the class of                                  of 1972, where he excelled in various Tiger Sports.
     After graduation David attended North Idaho Junior College,                                    in Coeur d’Alene where he received an associate degree in Auto                                Body Repair. After graduation he worked for Doc Little. Other                                        employment included Gem State Lumber Company, Ed Lynch Farming, Zimmerman and Darby Logging and most recently lending a helping hand to Mark Harris.

     From a young age David was always tinkering with something. He could fix and repair almost anything. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, having coffee at the local cafe and attending sporting events in Kendrick.
      He is survived by his sons, Mark (Stephanie) and daughter Taylor, of Pullman, Laith (Amber), of St. Maries, granddaughters Macie and Kammi, sisters, Sharon Barr, Cheyenne, Wyo., Ruth Ann (Stan), Glasgow, Mont., brothers Paul (Rita) Juliaetta and Brent, Kendrick. Other survivors include his special nieces and nephews Michelle Becktel, A.J., Nancy, Randie and Blakely, of St. Maries, Michael Mulalley, Lucas and Emily, of St. Maries, Michael Hogan (Patti) Rylan and Carson, of Juliaetta and Michele Palmer (Scott) Alex and Hayden, of Moscow. Other survivors include Leslie (Michael) Atchison, of Lewiston.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Brian and sister Nancy.

David "Frog" Hutcheson

George & Helen Brocke

     George was born August 22, 1930, to parents George and Emma Brocke. George was a lifelong resident of Kendrick. He attended Kendrick High School where he was a standout player on both the basketball and football teams. George was on the very first Kendrick team to earn the state championship title for basketball. He often spoke of these times with fondness, even mentioning visiting with a past basketball opponent one week before his passing.
     George married Helen Lee Harris April 7, 1947, to whom he was proudly married for 66 years until her death Oct. 27, 2013. Helen was the love of his life, and he cherished their life together. They had one son, Dean Harris Brocke.

    He started full-time employment at George F. Brocke and Sons (Brocke and Sons) in 1950, which was the year the company was established by his father in Kendrick, ID. In 1959, Brocke and Sons was incorporated and he was named president/manager which he remained until his retirement in 1997. George was a celebrated business leader in his field, winning many awards and serving on several committees throughout his career.            Most notably he served as the president of the Pea and Lentil Association and was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the same association.
    During their time at Brocke and Sons George and Helen traveled extensively. They visited nearly every continent. On their very first overseas trip to Taiwan, George was introduced to a machine that would remove the skin of a bean. He immediately had the foresight of removing the skin of the red lentil that was being researched at Washington State University at the time. He had the machine shipped home to Kendrick and after some experimenting, started marketing the popular Red Chief Lentils. Another memorable trip was traveling to China when he met Senator Frank Church and five other senators, one being a young (then Senator) Joe Biden.
 
     When asked to describe George, the words most often used are kind, loving, generous, humble and community-minded. He loved his community and gave his time and support in many ways. George was a Charter Member of the Lions Club which started in 1953, one Lions Club project he was instrumental in was the overhaul of the Kendrick City Park. He also served on the city council, served a term as mayor of Kendrick, and spent several years as the fire chief of the Kendrick Volunteer Fire Department.

 
George was also a devoted Christian and his faith was important to him throughout his life. He spoke often of his church family and the comfort and support that they provided.
In his younger years George loved to hunt and fish and took his son Dean camping often. He and Helen were avid “rockhounds” and had a large rock collection of rocks gathered from all over the region. He loved music and watching his favorite sports teams, but above all else he adored his family. He was a very hands-on father, grandfather and even great-grandfather, making certain to attend everyone’s events.

     George was born August 22, 1930, to parents George and                                            Emma Brocke. George was a lifelong resident of Kendrick. He                                          attended Kendrick High School where he was a standout player                                      on both the basketball and football teams. George was on the                                        very first Kendrick team to earn the state championship title for                                    basketball. He often spoke of these times with fondness, even                                        mentioning visiting with a past basketball opponent one week                                        before his passing.

     Helen was born at Southwick to Virgil and Opal Harris on                                Christmas Day, 1928.  She grew up in Southwick and attended                                      Kendrick High School. George married Helen Lee Harris April 7,                                  1947, to whom he was proudly married for 66 years until her                              death Oct. 27, 2013. Helen was the love of his life, and he cherished their life together. They had one son, Dean Harris Brocke.  Helen loved keeping an immaculate home and flower gardens.  She worked as a receptionist and bookkeeper at George F. Brocke and Sons for over fifty years.

     George started full-time employment at George F. Brocke and Sons (Brocke and Sons) in 1950, which was the year the company was established by his father in Kendrick, ID. In 1959, Brocke and Sons was incorporated and he was named president/manager which he remained until his retirement in 1997. George was a celebrated business leader in his field, winning many awards and serving on several committees throughout his career. Most notably he served as the president of the Pea and Lentil Association and was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the same association.
     During his time at Brocke and Sons, George traveled extensively with Helen by his side. They visited nearly every continent. On their very first overseas trip to Taiwan, George was introduced to a machine that would remove the skin of a bean. He immediately had the foresight of removing the skin of the red lentil that was being researched at Washington State University at the time. He had the machine shipped home to Kendrick and after some experimenting, started marketing the popular Red Chief Lentils. Another memorable trip was traveling to China when he met Senator Frank Church and five other senators, one being a young (then Senator) Joe Biden.
     When asked to describe George, the words most often used are kind, loving, generous, humble and community-minded. He loved his community and gave his time and support in many ways. George was a Charter Member of the Lions Club which started in 1953, one Lions Club project he was instrumental in was the overhaul of the Kendrick City Park. He also served on the city council, served a term as mayor of Kendrick, and spent several years as the fire chief of the Kendrick Volunteer Fire Department.

     George and Helen were both devoted Christians.  They were life-long members of the Methodist Church.  George's faith was important to him throughout his life. He spoke often of his church family and the comfort and support that they provided.

     In his younger years George loved to hunt and fish and took his son Dean camping often. He and Helen were avid “rockhounds” and had a large rock collection of rocks gathered from all over the region. He loved music and watching his favorite sports teams, but above all else he adored his family. He was a very hands-on father, grandfather and even great-grandfather, making certain to attend everyone’s events.

Rick V. Gertje

                                             Randy Silflow, 66, of St. Maries, passed away Friday, Dec.                                       15,2023. He was born Nov. 15, 1957, in Moscow, to Roy and                                             Doris Silflow. Randy was raised in Kendrick on the family                                               farm, which he, his dad and five brothers operated.
                                              In 1993, he married Kippy Flomer and moved to St.                                                Maries. He then began working at Hughes Home Center until                                          March 2023. He truly was “the helpful hardware man” at                                                work, at home and in the community. As anyone who met                                              him would know, Randy never met a stranger.
                                              The greatest joys in his life were his two sons, Conner                                            and Ryker. He was involved in every aspect of their lives.                                                He went on every field trip, a trip to Washington, D.C. and                                              numerous camping trips. He was an assistant leader for                                                  Boy Scout Troop 442, where he and Tom Jarvi had many                                                  memorable adventures and several scouts earning their Eagle Rank. He was active in his church and enjoyed fishing, hunting, and spending time with family and friends. 

    Randy is predeceased by his father, Roy, and brother, Ray. He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Kippy; his sons Conner (Morgan) Silflow, of Troy, and Ryker (Maddy) Silflow, of Pullman; his mother Doris Silflow, of Kendrick; brothers Mike (Laurie) Silflow, of Kendrick, Doug (Denise) Silflow, of Kendrick, Jim Silflow, of Moscow, Richard (Anita) Silflow, of Kendrick, John (Selina), of Kendrick; sisters Diane (Dale) Imes, of Newman Lake, Wash., and Debbie (Jerry) Wishard of Federal Way, Wash.; and numerous in-laws, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Randy Silflow

Esther Chrystal

Esther M. Chrystal, was born Oct. 7, 1931, in Lansing, Mich., the second child of Roy and Hazel Seeley. The family moved to Idaho when Esther was 7 years old, settling in Weippe. Esther graduated from Weippe High School at the age of 16 and went to work at the Headquarters Drug Store with her future mother-in-law. While in high school Esther delivered papers and worked setting pins in the local bowling alley.
Esther married Don Chrystal on Sept. 10, 1950. They lived in Headquarters, Spokane and spent many years in Bovill, before moving to Kendrick and eventually Lewiston. They had two daughters, Cheryl and Janet, whom they raised while living in Bovill. Esther worked at the grocery store in Bovill and then she began her long career with the Postal Service, eventually retiring from the Moscow Post Office in 1996.

 
Esther had many interests which included gardening, oil painting, reading and playing cards. She was quite competitive and loved beating whoever she was playing at cards. While living in Bovill she was a member of a bowling team with several other Bovill ladies that spent much of the time laughing and having a good time while bowling some too.
She was a member of Al-Anon for many years, making many lifetime friends while receiving and giving support to other members. Esther survived breast cancer in 2016, taking it in stride with her usual good-natured resilience. She was known for her upbeat personality, sense of humor and toughness. She had a positive effect on all who knew her.
Esther and Don were married 69 years before his passing in 2019.
 
Esther is survived by her daughters, Cheryl Cromer and Janet (Grady) Shawver, granddaughters Jennifer Cromer, Stephanie (Mike) Hall, all of Moscow, Kasey (Mat Hutton) Hardin of Lewiston, Alison and Navia Shawver of Cypress, Calif., and great-grandchildren Isaac, Trinity and Ben Hall and Sadie Hardin. She is also survived by her sister and brother-in-law Kaye and Jim Poindexter and sisters-in-law Marjean Seeley and Shirley Seeley and many cousins, nieces and nephews that she cared deeply about.

Ann Becker Nilsson

Ann was born May 11, 1938, to Stanton and Leona (Wagner)
Becker of Genesee. Her earliest memories included summers
spent with her dad, changing irrigation pipes at the “River
Ranch” on the Snake River and trailing cows on horseback
through Lewiston to summer pasture in the Three Bear area
near Deary.

She attended the St Mary’s Catholic School in Genesee before
transferring to the High School as a freshman. There she met
Jon Nilsson, and they began a life-long romance that carried
them through seven decades and life on two continents. She
graduated valedictorian in 1956 and Magna Cum Laude from
the University of Idaho in 1960. She received her Masters from
the UI in 1962. She was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, and her many “sisters” remained dear friends, maintaining a rigorous letter-writing effort for decades.

Ann and Jon were married Sept. 24, 1960, in Genesee, and moved to Lewiston, where Jon worked for Twin City Foods. In 1962 they welcomed daughter Caroline, followed by sons Kirk (1964) and Jon Stanton (1965).

In 1970 they were selected as a family to serve in the “Peace Corps Volunteer” program. They packed up their house and took kids ages 6, 7 and 9 to Botswana from 1971-74 and returned under a Near East Foundation contract until February 1977. In retrospect, Genesee farm kids moving and thriving in Africa was unique.

They returned to Idaho and joined Stanton Becker Farms with her parents and brothers. This included property and a home in Cavendish (between Kendrick and Orofino), where they settled into farm life. They cheered on the kids in 4-H, music and sports programs at Orofino High School. Ann became active in the local chapter of Idaho Women for Agriculture and the Hill and Valley Garden Club in Kendrick. She was renowned as a talented florist, competing in regional fairs and events for many decades.

Ann and Jon remained world travelers and were among the first tourists to be admitted into China. They enjoyed numerous trips focused on farming tours, especially one that featured a million acre farm in Brazil. In her later years, Ann’s physical challenges didn’t slow her down, and they made a trip to Australia and Alaska despite the extra effort.

Ann Marie Becker Nilsson died Friday, May 3, 2024.  Ann is survived by her husband of 64 years, Jon; her children: Caroline (David Troy), Kirk (Sue), Jon (Alisa); grandchildren Marie (Tom Linehan), Mollie (Ross Freeden) and Jacquline; and great-grandchildren McKenzie and Jack. She was preceded in death by her parents Stanton and Leona Becker and brothers Donald and Dale Becker.

                                    Patricia “Pat” Long Odberg, 91, born Aug. 27, 1932, passed                                          away peacefully the evening of Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, with                                        her son and daughter-in-law by her side. Pat was born in                                            Lewiston to Tom and Anna Lien Long. She grew up in                                                  Kendrick, and graduated from Kendrick High School in 1950.                                        She attended the University of Idaho and was a member of                                        the Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority, where she had many                                              wonderful memories and friends. Pat graduated in 1954 with                                      a Bachelor of Science degree in education.

                                    Following college graduation, Pat moved to Portland,                                                  Oregon, and taught second grade for five years at Sunnyside                                      Elementary School. She then taught at a military base in                                            East Anglia Wethersfield, Essex, England. Since housing was not provided for the American teachers, Pat and other teachers lived in the small village of Great Bardfield, which was near the military base. At the end of the school term, Pat returned to teach at Harvey Scott Elementary in Portland. She taught for five years before returning to Idaho.

Pat and Jim (Ellis) Odberg were married in 1965. They farmed in the Genesee area until Jim’s retirement in 1993. They moved to Clarkston. Jim passed away in 2005.

As a member of the Valley Lutheran Church in Genesee, she taught Sunday school and vacation Bible school. She and Jim were involved in the National FFA Organization and were chosen as honored members of the local chapter. Pat was a member of Genesee American Legion Auxiliary and was chosen as member of the year in 1990.

Pat and Jim were loyal members of the University of Idaho Vandal Boosters, seldom missing a home football game. They were supporters of the University of Idaho Scholarship Foundation and Pacific Lutheran Foundation.

Pat moved to Good Samaritan Village in Moscow in 2017. She enjoyed living in Moscow, being close to family and attending her grandsons’ sports events and other school activities.

Patricia “Pat” Odberg

Don Canfield Chrystal

Don was born at home in Bovill on May 3, 1930, to Barbara
(Fisher) and George Chrystal. He lived in Bovill until 1943 when
his family moved to Headquarters, Idaho. Don graduated from
Pierce High School in 1947 and continued his education at the
University of Idaho.

Don married Esther Seeley on Sept. 10,
1950. They had two daughters, Cheryl and Janet. Don went to
work for Potlatch Forest Inc. as a hooker on the railroad crew
with five great guys. He continued to work at several logging
camps until 1959, when he began his career with the United
States Postal Service. He was the president and secretary of
the Idaho NAPUS and enjoyed traveling and meeting other
postmasters. In 1990, Don retired from the Postal Service as
the Postmaster at the Kendrick Post Office.

He enjoyed gardening and camping and fishing with his family and friends. He
especially enjoyed the Oregon coast. As a young man, he coached baseball, basketball, belonged to the gun club and a bowling league. Don also served on the city council and fire department in Bovill, the White Pine school board and belonged to the Lions Club in Kendrick. He loved to share stories of the past and would often share about his travels on his horse, Dolly. Don was also a friend of Bill W.’s for 28 years.

Don was diagnosed with dementia and spent the last two years in memory care facilities. Thank you to the staff for the wonderful care Don received at Palouse Hills Assisted Living in Moscow, where he was residing at the time of his death. Don passed away Monday, July 15, 2019, at the age of 89.

He is survived by his wife, Esther, of 67 years; his two daughters, Cheryl Cromer,
of Moscow, and Janet Shawver (Grady), of Seattle; his grandchildren, Stephanie Hall (Mike), Jennifer Cromer and Kasey Hardin (Cody Benjamin); and his great-grandchildren, Isaac, Trinity and Benjamin Hall and Sadie Hardin. He is also survived by his sister, Kaye Poindexter (Jim), of Sequim, Wash., and his nephews, Mike (Christine) Poindexter and Ron (Jay) Poindexter. He has several other cousins, nieces and nephews.

Don Canfield Chrystal

Donna Lohman

                                       Donna Mae Lohman was born March 26, 1936, in Minot,                                               North Dakota, to A.O. and Mamie Kanikkeberg.

                                       As a teenager, Donna always had a job. Starting out at the                                         bowling alley setting pins, she next moved onto the                                                   telephone company and then Burt’s Cafe. After graduating                                           high school in 1954, Donna attended the University of                                               Idaho for a year and a half and was a part of the Vandaleer
                                       Choir. 

                                       Donna married her husband, Jack Lohman, on Oct. 21, 1956,
                                       at the Kendrick Methodist Church, and they were blessed
                                       with two children, Janet and Doug. After getting married,                                           Donna worked at the Farmer’s Bank in Kendrick, which was                                         founded by her father. With children on the way, she                                                 decided to be home on the farm and take on the roles of being a mother, a fantastic cook to many workers on the farm and the “hostess with the mostess” as many friends and family would deem her. Donna loved to entertain and always made sure that everyone was well fed and taken care of.

Donna was an active member of the Cameron Lutheran Church. When her children were young, she enjoyed teaching the Sunday school classes and becoming such a huge part of the church. She went on to be the church choir director for 18 years and held several different offices in WELCA. She loved being a part of her church.

Donna was a member of the Kendrick High School Booster Club and was very
passionate about keeping kids active in a small town. She was a charter member of the Kendrick Garden Club which helped landscape the high school. She was also the
Brownie Scouts Leader when her kids were young. Donna was blessed with a beautiful
voice in which she sang for many weddings, funerals and special occasions. Singing
was her passion.

She is survived by her daughter Janet (Dave) Dudunake; son Doug (Christine)
Lohman; several grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; sister in-law Phyllis
Kanikkeberg; nephew Rodney Kanikkeberg; many other relatives and close friends.

She passed away in her home on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. She was preceded in
death by her husband Jack Lohman; parents, A.O. and Mamie Kanikkeberg; siblings
Jordon, Ozzie, Myra and Ann; and grandsons Douglas Jr., and Casey Lohman.

Robin Magnuson

Robin Magnuson, beloved father, husband, grandfather,
brother, and uncle died at home in the early morning hours
on Thursday, September 19th. Born in Tacoma on the day of
the Narrows Bridge collapse on November 7th, 1940, to
Lucille (Rudd) and Robert Magnuson. During his early school
years his family lived in Worley, ID, Opportunity, WA,
Tacoma, WA, Idaho Falls, ID, Lewiston, ID, finally settling in
Kendrick, ID. 

As a Jr. High and High School student Robin enjoyed
playing football and basketball, helping to take the
Kendrick Tigers to the state tournaments multiple times. He
earned a scholarship in basketball to the College of Idaho in
Caldwell, where he studied English, and History. His college summers were spent firefighting for the Idaho Forest Service. In 1960, while ride-sharing to Grangeville for Thanksgiving break, he came to the attention of his future wife, Cindy, during a blizzard on the old Whitebird pass. They were married on December 29th, 1962, and celebrated 61 years together. 

Robin was a gifted educator. After graduating from the University of California,
Northridge, he taught at San Fernando H.S. CA, Stanfield, OR and Troy, ID. He then
taught English to young adults at both the University of Idaho and Washington State
University. He achieved high accolades for creating the Writing Lab program at
Washington State University. He enjoyed helping his students learn to think critically
about their world. He was also a talented coach. He was a life-long scholar of history
and politics with a deep respect and love for the stories of indigenous peoples, notablythe Nimiipuu.

In 1966 he was drafted and entered the army as a Conscientious Objector. He
served honorably in Bamberg, Germany as a medic and educator, helping soldiers learn to read and write.

Robin and Cindy have 3 children, Lenea Kindred (Paul Pierzchanowski), Joshua
Ellis (Jessica), and Seth Levi (Candace), whom Robin called his first Goofballs.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and by his brother Dana one week
prior. Besides his wife and children, he leaves behind his cherished Grand-Goofballs:
Aurora Jade, Ellis Brady, Natasha Kindred, Brenna Marguerite, Shepherd Phillip, and
Gabriel Robin. Siblings Dee (Dick), Lee (Keith), and Gisele (Craig), and many nieces
and nephews all of whom he loved very much.

Lee Heimgartner

                                     Lee Roy Heimgartner, 72, beloved husband, father, son,                                               brother, papa, uncle and friend, passed away peacefully                                             surrounded by his family on Wednesday, April 16, 2025,
                                     of cancer.

                                     Lee was the firstborn to Roy Heimgartner and Ardythe                                                 Lindor Heimgartner, born June 1, 1952, in Moscow, joined two                                years later by his brother Dale. The family moved from Juliaetta up                    the hill to the farm when Lee was in the first grade. They                                           were raised surrounded by cousins, playing basketball in the                                       old round-roofed barn by the house and spending time trying                            to catch catfish that they transplanted from lake fishing to                                         the troughs. The fish would usually win since the kids only                                         had safety pins for hooks on a string. There was always                                               trouble to be found when the cousins were together, which
usually resorted in being sent to weed the garden.

Lee graduated from Lapwai High School in 1970, where he was a three-sport
athlete, and participated in FFA, band, L Club, chorus and two plays. He then attended the University of Idaho for one year, before he decided farming was his love. Lee worked for Larry Boyer Farms until 1975 before returning to join the family farm with his father Roy and Uncle Wayne, which was his lifetime career.

Lee married his high school sweetheart, Barbara Bonin, on Sept. 4, 1970. They welcomed three children Leah, Lynn and Chad. The family experienced many memories including farm life, boat camping, snow skiing, and vacationing with family and friends. Lee enjoyed his two loves of family and farming for the entirety of his life.

He will be missed at the family farm by his loving wife, Barbara; brother Dale
(Bobbi) Heimgartner, of Coeur d’Alene; daughter Lynn (Justin) Cook: grandkids Aleena,
Devyn, and Sam, of Latah, Wash.; son Chad (Danielle) Heimgartner: grandkids Harley,
Mercedes, and Hank, of Juliaetta; grandkids Brooke (Jalen) Kirk, Bailee, Bodee, and son-in-law Owen Swanson and great-granddaughter Aleah Kirk, all of Deary. Also surviving him are in-laws: Debby LeBlanc, Sid and Brenda Armstrong and Doris Bonin; many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends, all who will miss his love, strong unfiltered advice and quick wit. He was known to send his grandkids some great texts when he couldn’t be present. Lee was respected by many throughout his life and in the farming community.

Lee was preceded in death by his parents Roy and Ardythe, along with his
cherished firstborn daughter Leah Swanson, beloved grandson Joe Cook, and brothers-
in-law Ken LeBlanc and Tom Bonin.

Sarah King-Swartz

Sarah King-Swartz passed away on Wednesday, Sept. 18,
2024, at Mission Health Care in Renton, Wash., following
a long battle with pulmonary fibrosis. She was 72 years old.

Sarah King was born to Tom E. King and Dorothy Bateman-
King, on the edge of Bedrock Canyon near Southwick, on Oct.
23, 1951. She was the second of two daughters. Sarah grew
up on the family farm near Southwick and began school there
in 1958. She went on to attend junior high and high school in
Kendrick, where she graduated in 1970 with top honors and
with many scholarships, including the coveted Mary Hall
Nichols scholarship. She went on to earn a degree at the
University of Idaho and then attended a school in Newark,
New Jersey, to earn a degree in dietetics.

Following school Sarah moved to Mountlake Terrace, Wash., while working as a dietitian for Seattle Children’s Orthopedic Hospital. She then moved to Issaquah, Wash., where she met Frank Swartz, and they were married soon after. Frank was a real estate broker, and Sarah soon obtained her real estate license and began selling real estate as a second job. She also began working as a dietitian for Northwest Kidney Center where she worked for many years. Frank became ill and passed away in 2004.

In 2011 Sarah purchased a home and moved to Kent. She continued to work at the Kidney Center and sell real estate. She retired in 2018.

Marilyn J. Eichner

                                     Marilyn Joann Schupfer Eichner, 91, passed away on                                                   Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, at TriState Health in Clarkston,                                             following a fall resulting from age related problems.

                                     Marilyn was born to Freda Alberta Stephenson Schupfer and                                       Herman C. Schupfer on Dec. 21, 1933, at the family home in                                       Kendrick, during the flood of 1933. Mother and baby were                                           transported to higher ground in Kendrick to assure their                                             safety.

                                     Marilyn attended Juliaetta Elementary School and Kendrick                                         High School, graduating with the class of 1951. She attended                                       one semester at the University of Idaho.

                                     On March 11, 1951, she married her high school sweetheart,                                         Donald “Bud” Eichner. They had four children, Rebecca (1954), Steven (1956), Claude (1958, died at age 5), and Tim (1960).

Marilyn and Bud lived in Tacoma while Bud was in the U.S. Army, they returned
to Kendrick following his discharge. After returning to their hometown, they owned and operated the Potlatch Telephone Company, a family-owned business, until 1989 when they retired. Marilyn had started working in the family business at a young age,
delivering phone books to the community and working as a switchboard operator. Later, she transitioned to office manager, and finally the role of president.

Marilyn was very active in the Kendrick community. She was a dedicated member of the Kendrick Methodist Church, singing in the choir, filling in on the piano and serving as treasurer for 25 years. She served on the Kendrick School Board for eight years and was the School Board Clerk for 20 years. She was a Cub Scout den mother when the boys were young and sang with the Sweet Adelines for 29 years. She and Bud loved to camp and travel, but most of all they loved spending time with family.

Marilyn loved to sew, knit, crochet and quilt. She could whip up a pair of mittens
or socks in an evening. She belonged to several quilting groups and made over 100
quilts. Marilyn especially looked forward to the quilting retreat held with the groups.
They were a great opportunity to connect with treasured friends.

Marilyn is survived by daughter, Becky Witt (Roger) and sons, Steve (Melva) and
Tim (Mellissa), her nine grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren.

Richard Hunt Morton

Richard (Dick) Hunt Morton passed away Monday,
February 17, 2025, at the age of 87. He was surrounded
by family at the home he shared with his wife, Dee
Lynette Magnuson Morton at Riverview Retirement
Community in Spokane, Washington. Dick is survived by
his wife of 59 years, Dee; daughters Heather, Heidi
(Hannah Blackburn) Morton, and Roberta (John)Bottelli;
grandchildren Monica Clara Morton and Kristopher Richard
Pierson; sister, Carolyn Morton Tuttle; and many nieces
and nephews. He was preceded in death by his sister
Margaret Pierce and brother Harry Robert (Bob) Morton.

Dick was born in Hornell, New York to parents Harry
Kemp Morton and Cora Hunt Morton. Growing up on a farm
in rural New York meant a life filled with animals and outdoor adventures, instilling in him a lifelong appreciation and love of the outdoors. He received his Bachelor of Science in Industrial Arts degree from State University of New York in Buffalo before moving west to Washington State. Dick’s plan was to teach in Alaska but he stopped at his brother Rev. Robert Morton’s church in Tacoma, Washington, where he was captivated by a talented young organist and musician - his future wife Dee. They married in 1965 and settled in Tacoma while Dee finished her Bachelor’s Degree in Music from the University of Puget Sound and Richard continued his service in the United States Army National Guard. After Dee’s graduation and Dick’s honorable discharge, the couple moved to Shelton, Washington, where Dick began teaching, completed his Masters degree in Educational Administration, and became a school principal. Shelton was the perfect place for Dick to hike and climb with his lifelong friend B. Frank Heuston, and the pair summited peaks throughout the Cascades and
Olympics. Three daughters followed: Heather, Heidi and Roberta. Dad and daughters
enjoyed many excursions into the mountains.

In 1975, the Morton family moved to Kendrick, Idaho, where Dick became
superintendent of schools. The family relocated to Emmett, Idaho in 1980, where Dick
continued establishing his reputation as a superintendent of uncompromising integrity making tough decisions for the good of students. The family moved back to the Pacific Northwest in 1985 when Dick became superintendent of schools in Morton, Washington, returning the family to the heart of the Cascade Mountains. Weekends were spent shuttling Heidi and Roberta to and from Tacoma music lessons and rehearsals and hiking in and around Mt. Rainier National Park.

Dick and Dee retired to Burnt Ridge near Onalaska, Washington, with a beautiful
view of Mount Saint Helens and a palatial woodshop. Always a tinkerer and master
woodworker, Dick enjoyed working on their home and spending time with his
grandchildren Monica and Kristopher. The next move brought the pair to Carlyon Beach on Puget Sound, closer to daughter Heather and her children. Their time was filled with walks along the water counting eagles and watching for whales, all under the watchful eye of Mt. Rainier.

One final move brought the couple to a cottage in Riverview Retirement
Community in 2022, following daughter Heather’s move to Spokane where Roberta and her husband John also reside. Richard could be seen most days enjoying the trails around Riverview, telling stories and connecting with residents while taking in the fresh air. Unfortunately, heart failure and Alzheimer’s took their toll, eventually leading to his death.

Dana E. Magnuson

                                          Dana was born April 7, 1947, in Idaho Falls, Idaho to                                                    Robert & Lucille (Rudd) Magnuson. He grew up in                                                        Kendrick and graduated from high school there. Dana                                                  attended Pomona College in California, graduating with                                              his bachelor’s degree.

                                          He married Ellen Winter in 1978 and together they made
                                          Kendrick their home and raised their two children. Dana                                              operated the family insurance business (R. E. Magnuson                                              Insurance Agency) until his retirement. Dana and Ellen                                                later divorced.

                                          Dana was a member of the Kendrick United Methodist                                                Church and the Seven Drum Church with the Nez Perce                                              Tribe in Lapwai, Idaho. He devoted much of his life to                                                public service. He served as a Latah County                                                                Commissioner for six years and later as a city council member and mayor of Kendrick. He represented Kendrick and Juliaetta on Latah County’s Arts and Culture Committee.

Dana was a passionate musician and artist and leaves behind a substantial body of
original songs and paintings. He also enjoyed the outdoors, fishing and hunting. He looked forward to elk camp every fall.

Dana passed away September 12, 2024, at Bishop Place in Pullman, Washington. He is
survived by his daughter Anna Magnuson (Josh Forbes) of Los Angeles, California; his son Robert Magnuson of Eastound, Washington; his brother Lee Magnuson of Maryland; two sisters Dee Morton & Giselle Magnuson both of Spokane, Washington; and his three grandchildren Oscar, Molly and Alexandra Forbes. Dana’s eldest brother Robin Magnuson (Cindy Magnuson) survived him by one week before also passing away. Dana was preceded in death by his parents, Bob and Lucille.

                                           Leonard was born to Fred and Edna Cole on April 1, 1931,                                  at Lenore, Idaho.  Most of his childhood years were spent on                                          Sunnyside Bench and at Cavendish, where he helped with the                                        family farm. He attended school at Sunnyside and later graduated                                  from Orofino High School.
                                           After graduation, he attended Eastern Washington College                                of Education at Cheney, as well as the North Idaho School of                                        Education (now LCSC), where he studied industrial arts. He                                            worked his way through college by helping his dad on the                                              family farm and sometimes worked at the Farrington Mill.                                              He also helped build the rural telephone line at Cavendish and                                      Teakean.
 
     On Valentine's Day in 1952, Leonard married his lifelong sweetheart, Virginia Cuddy. Together, they raised two daughters, Debbie and Barbara, and made the Lewiston area their lifelong home. Leonard worked in the building trade for several years and later started and ran a successful garage door business, from which he retired.
     He was an accomplished carpenter and woodworker. He built two family homes in Lewiston and filled the households of several grandchildren, daughters, nieces and nephews with special woodworking projects. He was always gracious to family and friends, generously helping with home remodeling and improvement projects. He also enjoyed many hours in his woodworking shop, where several special projects and gifts for others were crafted.
     He enjoyed music, playing the guitar, banjo, mandolin and harmonica at family jam sessions. He also had a culinary expertise for barbecue that family and friends appreciated greatly. He also went on several fishing and pack trips to Hoodoo and Larken lakes with family and friends, and enjoyed taking his wife and kids on camping trips to Aquarius.

     Leonard was great fun and had a sense of humor that all enjoyed. Practical jokes and pranks were one of his specialties and the coyness of his delivery was trademark. He was an active member of the local Elks, Eagles and Moose lodges, and enjoyed square dancing.
He died November 18,2008.

                                          Retired Coast Guard Senior Chief William “Bill” Forrest                                        Towne, 82, of Kendrick, passed away peacefully Tuesday, July 11,                                    2023, surrounded by his family and his beloved wife, Joyce.                                            While the morning started with a wild, summer storm, Bill                              passed      passed away under clear skies and fair winds. 

                                          The only child of Forrest Evans Towne and Athelene                                             Dailey, Bill was born July 26, 1940, in Bremerton, Washington.                                       In his senior year of high school, 1958, Bill applied to the newly                                     opened U.S. Air Force Academy, sponsored by Senator Henry M.                                     Jackson of Washington. He would serve in the Air Force in Medics                                   as a Dental Technician. Bill would later transfer to the Coast                                         Guard in 1963 as an Electronics Technician. Of his many adventures in the Coast Guard, Bill would serve a two-year tour in Keflavik, Iceland, a tour on Baffin Island in the Northwest Territory of Canada, and Point Arguello, California. In California, the Coast Guard had the responsibility of maintaining Point Conception Lighthouse, a service Bill greatly loved.
     In the summer of 1961, Bill met his future wife, Mary Joyce Bell. Introduced by a pair of friends, Bill could never remember a lot of their first date other than the look in Joyce’s eyes and the light in her smile; all he knew was that he had to see her again. They had only been dating for three weeks when the topic of marriage came up, and by Dec. 9, 1961, they were married at the Hitching Post in Coeur d’Alene. It was only after they were married that they decided to tell their respective families.

     Bill retired from the Coast Guard as a Senior Chief in 1980. During his time in the military, all four of his children were born: Christine, Timothy, Kelly and Michael. The family would eventually move to Spokane. Over the years, each of their children would settle down and have children of their own.
     In 2012, Bill and Joyce made the decision to move to Kendrick to be closer to family. There they became part of a great community, able to attend their grandchildren’s games and events, make lots of new friends and travel at their leisure. One of his favorite spots was Archie’s Cafe, where every Thursday morning he’d have a steak and two eggs, over medium.
    Bill was a man who always put his family first. A rock, a pillar and a stable force in many lives. To the very end, he was only concerned about how other people were doing, and even in the hospital when asked how he was, would simply answer, “I’m fine.”
    Bill is survived by his wife, Joyce, and his children, Christine Friedman, Timothy and Sandra Towne, Kelly and David Fisk and Michael and Nadine Towne. He is also survived by his 14 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

    Barbara was born on her parents’ farm Oct. 19, 1925. She, her twin sister, Isobel, and brothers Allan and Neil grew up on the family farm between Peck and Melrose, Idaho. Her parents were David Vinal (Bob) Garner and Alice Barbara (Thain) Garner.
    She attended the Garner grade school for seven years and graduated from Peck High School in 1943. She attended Kinman Business College in Spokane the winter of 1943-44. From 1944 to 1945 she worked at Galena Spokane Air Technical Service Command repair hangar, helping repair B-24s returning from the war. She later attended the University of Idaho, where she was selected secretary of the freshman class. While attending the U of I, Barbara met Don Benscoter. They were married in September of 1947, living off campus until Don graduated in 1948. 
     The couple moved to Genesee the winter of 1948-49, then to Craigmont, where they lived for five years before moving to Grangeville for one year. Following three years in Cottonwood, they moved to Lewiston and then finally to Sweetwater, Idaho, in 1972.
Barbara worked at Orchards Elementary School in Lewiston as cook’s helper for four years, then was employed at Pixieland day care center. She spent 12 years as an aide at Lapwai Elementary, and her last two years as an aide to the kindergarten class. This was a very rewarding time for her as she really enjoyed working with all of the local children.
    Her many passions included riding horses, building her “rock” wall, native beadwork, cornhusk weaving, genealogy, making blankets for the “Minutes of Gold” organization and, in later years, line dancing. She and Isobel spent many years tracing their family roots and completed/published their family history book in 1990. She took pride in the fact their family farm achieved the distinction of being a Century Farm that same year.
She was a member and served as vice president of the Twin Rivers Genealogy Society, as well as belonging to the Craig Mountain Eastern Star Chapter #53 since June of 1951.   Barbara passed away November 5, 2018.

     Don grew up on the family farm on American                                                              Ridge. He was born to Frankie and Jo (Guy)                                                                      Benscoter on Jan. 27, 1921. He attended grade                                                          school at the American Ridge School and grad-                                                                uated from Kendrick High School with the class                                                              of 1938. He then attended one year at the Uni-                                                          versity of Idaho before enlisting in the U.S. Army                                                          Air Corps on Sept. 30, 1942. Eager to enlist, but                                                 not meeting the weight requirements, Don ate a                                            bunch of bananas just prior to his physical. This one meal                                                        moved the needle just enough to allow him to                                                            "sign up."

     He was not called into active service until Feb. 17, 1943. Don served his country as a technical sergeant, flying in a B-17 "Flying Fortress" as a flight engineer and top turret gunner, and he was awarded an Air Medal with Five Oak Clusters, the Good Conduct Medal and the European-African Middle Eastern Service Medal. He was a member of the 34th bombardment group, which was responsible for bombing Nazi war-making installations, including Messerschmitt plants at Regensburg, Germany. During the war he survived yellow fever, cholera and an amazing 34 missions over Germany. He was discharged Sept. 8, 1945.

     Upon returning home, he continued his education at the University of Idaho. It was during this year that he met Barbara Garner, who was also a student at UI. They were married in September of 1947 and lived off campus until Don graduated with a degree in agriculture science in 1948.

     His first job was with the Soil Conservation Service in Genesee. From there, he worked for Lewiston Grain Growers at Cottonwood, then McCall Farm Chemicals. Eventually he went to work for Benedict Seeds at Winchester. In 1958, Benedict built a feed and seed plant in Lewiston and he and his family moved there. Don was the general manager of Benedict Seeds until his retirement in 1986.

     He and Barbara built four homes over the years, but their favorite was their last, at Sweetwater. Don and Barbara bought the small ranch from Barbara's uncle, Raymond Thain, in 1972. It was here that they both were able to pursue their passions of raising cattle, horses and living the country lifestyle.

     Being a life member of the Elks, a member of the Cattlemen's Association and president of the Tammany School Board were just a few of his accomplishments. There is not enough space here to list all that he has done, and we find ourselves frustrated by the constriction of not creating a rambling biography. The fact is this man really lived his life. Not a moment was wasted - right up to the end. Two weeks prior to his death, lying in a hospital bed, lungs full of pneumonia, he tells his daughter, "I have to get out of here and get to work." What a testimony to a spirit of a generation that took nothing for granted and valued their self-sufficient independence more than anything.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Jo Benscoter, and brother Ray Benscoter.

Don died April 13, 2017, leaving behind Barbara, his wife of 69 years; his three children, Sherry Benscoter Smith, Dana Benscoter and wife Mirtza, and Kelly "Opie" Benscoter; grandchildren Tate Smith and wife Soo Lee, Sherry Stutzman and husband Jared, Roxy Benscoter, Shelby Benscoter and Kelsey Benscoter; and great-grandchildren Mason and Mia Smith, and Asher and Austin Stutzman.

                                         Dec. 6, 1958 - Dec. 8, 2023

     Rick Von Gertje lost a year-long battle with pancreatic cancer                                    on Friday, Dec. 8, 2023, surrounded by his loving family at the                                  family home in Kendrick.
He was born on Dec. 6, 1958, to Gary Gertje and Kaye (Weyen,                                  Gertje) Harris in Lewiston. Rick was the oldest of four siblings;                                        Bret, Gary and Shari, who often lovingly referred to their big                                          brother as "The Professor" due to his calm, soft-spoken and                                          logical demeanor.
     Growing up, Rick played under Mrs. Baker's tree on schoolhouse                                hill with about 40 other neighborhood kids. In junior high and                                        high school he played football, raced motorcycles, often spent                                        weekends on his grandparents' farm and in the summer, water                                        skied and picnicked on Dworshak Reservoir with family and friends.
     Rick attended Juliaetta Elementary School and graduated from Kendrick High School in 1977. He attended the University of Idaho from 1977-78, then Lewis-Clark State College from 1978-80 earning an associate's degree in Mid-Management.
     While attending college, Rick worked for Brockes from 1977-80. Then in 1980 he started working for the Odom Corporation, Coca-Cola and worked there until 1992. In the summer of 1982, Rick took over the family farm in the Cameron/Leland area after the passing of his grandfather Billy Weyen. He continued to farm there for 39 years until his retirement in 2021.
     Rick married Joanne Parks on Dec. 17, 1982. They were the definition of true love, and were each other's best friends through their 40-plus years together. They had three daughters; Julia, Beth and Mary. He was devoted to the "Gertje Girls" being their biggest supporter and protector throughout their lives. He made sure to attend their sporting events, concerts, Junior Miss and any other activities that were important in their lives. Rick taught the girls many skills, such as changing tires, checking the engine oil, how to drive a stick shift, how to tie a fish hook, but most importantly the value of working hard, being honest and lending a helping hand.
     Rick and Joanne took many fishing, boating and camping trips to Dworshak with the girls. They also enjoyed spending time on the North Fork and St. Joe Rivers and taking rides in the mountains. He loved to be down in the canyon and made it a wonderful place for everyone to visit. He built a pond, stocking it with bass so the family could fish whenever they liked, and a fire pit to have smores and enjoy the view.
    Rick was blessed with nine grandchildren that he adored and loved beyond measure. He made sure to make many memories they will cherish. He took them fishing at the pond, camping and boating at Dworshak, swinging, tubing in the snow, zip-lining, combine and tractor rides, played cards, board games and roller-skating parties in the barn.
    Rick, the family protector, the rock, the "Professor," the most amazing and loving son, brother, husband, dad and grandpa, will be dearly missed by all of his family and friends.