Ronald K. 'Dude' Mercer, 73

Ronald K. "Dude" Mercer, 73, passed away quietly in his home in Noxon, Mont., on Sunday morning, April 18, 2004.

Memorial services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Mountain Daylight Time on Saturday, April 24, 2004, in the Noxon School multipurpose room in Noxon. Pastor Paul Chisholms will officiate with a "fireman's farewell" at the close of the service.

Dude was born in Laclede, Idaho, on June 17, 1930, the son of Cyril and Ina (King) Mercer. The family moved to Noxon, Mont., in 1936 and he attended Noxon schools.

At the end of his junior year, he went to work in construction and married Vera Lantis on Oct. 3, 1950, in Coeur d'Alene. He helped raise the couple's four children.

Dude worked at many jobs in his lifetime. He was a mechanic, a farmer and rancher, worked construction, and was a logger and a miner. He worked in a sawmill, retiring as the head millwright, from the Louisiana Pacific Sawmill in Trout Creek, Mont., following back surgery.

He was an avid hunter, hiker and outdoorsman. He became involved with the Noxon Volunteer Fire Department and served on the board of trustees for the department. He was appointed to the board in 1987 and resigned, as chairman of the board, in March of this year due to pancreatic cancer.

Dude is survived by two sons, Bryan Mercer and George Mercer; a daughter, Ronelle Helmbrecht; two grandsons, Jason and Aaron; a granddaughter, Kristina; eight great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, a son and three brothers.

Arrangements are under the care of Coffelt Funeral Service of Sandpoint.