Frederick 'Fred' Dennis Merrill

Frederick "Fred" Dennis Merrill passed away on Tuesday, March 1, 2005, at Life Care Center in Sandpoint, Idaho, where he resided.

Memorial services will be announced at a later date.

Fred was born Feb. 19, 1917, in the wild west frontier of Livingston, Mont. His parents were George and Sarah Merrill.

Fred went to the University of Iowa for two years and then returned home to tend to family matters and finished his last two years at the University of Montana where he received a degree in chemistry.

After graduation, Fred was working at Fort Peck, Mont., where he met Lorraine Overland. After a short commuter train romance, they were married on Feb. 5, 1943.

Fred and Lorraine moved to Spokane to take a position at the Carnation Milk Company. After working several years in Spokane, Fred accepted the field manager's position in Sandpoint in 1956.

In November of 1959, Fred and Lorraine, Dr. Helen Peterson and Buck Clark opened Sandpoint Bowling Lanes. Fred was an enthusiastic bowler and loved the business of bowling that by 1983, Fred and Lorraine were the sole owners of Sandpoint Bowling Lanes until 1990, when Fred sold the business.

When Fred was residing in Sandpoint, he was very community spirited. He was a member of the Elks Lodge, the Shriners of North America, Inc., and he was elected to 50-year membership in the Lakeside Lodge. He has been past president of the Kiwanis Club, president of the Lions Club, a member of the Eagles Lodge and a member of the Sandpoint Rotary Club.

Fred and Lorraine had planned to travel and did so for a short time before he lost his beloved Lorraine to cancer on Aug. 15, 1988.

In 1989, Fred had the pleasure of marrying June Colley. They traveled to Europe, South America, the Caribbean and Mexico. Eventually, they bought a home in Mesa, Ariz., where they resided during the winter months. While living in Mesa, they made many good friends at the Good Life Resort. Sandpoint was home during the summer. "What a cute couple they make" was often heard from their friends.

Shortly after arriving in Sandpoint in June 2003, June fell and injured herself, which required that she and Fred reside at Life Care in Sandpoint. June passed away in October 2003.

Fred is survived by his two sons, Richard Merrill and his wife, Kathleen, of Aberdeen, Wash., and Robert Merrill and his wife, Kellee of Sandpoint; three grandsons, Jacob Merrill of Aberdeen, and Jordan and Kaleb Merrill of Sandpoint; a niece, Maxine Daniels of Lahabra Heights, Calif.; and a cousin, Colleen Mittelstaedt of Spokane, Wash.

Arrangements are under the care of Coffelt Funeral Services.