James B. Fenton, 78

James B. Fenton, 78, passed away surrounded by family Sunday, Jan. 16, 2005, at his home in Dover, Idaho.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 23, 2005, at the Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint. There will be a gathering of family and friends at the Fenton home in Dover following the service.

Jim was born July 5, 1926, in Los Angeles, Calif., to James and Lenore (Barrett) Fenton. When he was 3 years old, his family moved to San Jose, Calif., where Jim attended school and graduated from high school.

After high school, Jim enlisted in the Naval Officers Training Program at the University of Southern California. The war ended before he saw active duty and he was honorably discharged. He then attended San Jose State College graduating with a double degree in chemistry and natural science.

In 1951, he married Joyce Rowe and began working at the Richmond Chase Packaging Co. as a food chemist. He then partnered with childhood friend, Dick Finnegan, and started an advertising business marketing housing developments that were springing up in the Santa Clara Valley.

It was during this time he began learning about the land development business.

In 1958 Jim and moved to Aptos, Calif. He purchased land in Aptos and began developing the Rancho Del Mar Shopping Center, which opened in 1964. During this time his two daughters were born.

In the summer of 1972, while visiting friends at Priest Lake, Jim and his family discovered Sandpoint. They bought the Ross Hall home, and the family moved north soon after. In Sandpoint, Jim continued to operate Rancho Del Mar Shopping Center as well as build the Lake Plaza Building.

Jim was one of the founders of Panhandle State Bank and served as the bank's chairman of the board of directors for 10 years, retiring from the board in 2000 due to health reasons. The bank recognized his service with board member emeritus.

Jim had a great love for Lake Pend Oreille and its surrounding mountains. He enjoyed boating and fishing on the lake in the summer and skiing in winter. He taught his children to ski at Schweitzer and was active in the Schweitzer Alpine Racing School organization while his daughters were ski racing. Jim loved his home and his family and treasured his grandsons. He will be greatly missed.

He is survived by his wife, Joyce Fenton of Dover; a son, Steve Fenton of Dover; two daughters, Julie (Steve) Meyer of Sandpoint and Susie (Mark) Kubiak of Dover; four grandchildren, Andy and Paul Meyer, and Gusto and Julian Kubiak; two brothers, Bill (Betty) Fenton of Santa Cruz, Calif., and Banning Fenton of Hayward, Calif; a niece, Joan Howard of Santa Cruz; and a nephew, Bob Fenton of San Jose, Calif.

Memorial donations may be made to the Panhandle Animal Shelter, Bonner County Library, or Bonner Community Hospice.

Please visit Jim's memorial at www.lakeviewfuneral.com and sign his online guest book.