William W. Beyer, 66

Bill Beyer, 66, of Coeur d'Alene, our husband, father, grandpa and coach died at Kootenai Medical Center on March 10, 2005.

Bill was born in Thorpe, Wis., on June 6, 1938. Bill spent his childhood years in Wisconsin and Michigan, graduating from Ubly High School in Ubly, Mich., in 1956. On Sept. 23, 1960, Bill married his wife of 44 years, Marlis Frye. Shortly after Bill's marriage to Marlis, he was drafted into the United States Army where he earned an honorable discharge.

In 1961, Bill and Marlis moved to Idaho to help Bill's dad run the Pend Oreille Cheese Factory in Sandpoint. Besides being a cheese maker, Bill was a union carpenter and in his final years, he took great pride in the apartments he managed in Coeur d'Alene where he has lived since 1979.

Bill was first and foremost a sports fan. Bill coached too many basketball and softball teams to mention. However, if asked, Bill could name just about every single person who played for him, their statistics and of course, their strengths and weaknesses. Rarely did Bill miss a North Idaho College sporting event or Seattle Mariners game.

Bill's life and frankly his identity changed on May 29, 1989, when Bill became a grandfather for the first time. Since that time he has been known to his family as Grandpa Bill, an incredible grandfather to six kids who will miss him more than anything. Bill would never place a bumper sticker on his car that would say, "My grandkids are cuter than yours," but if they were available, it would be for certain that his bumper sticker might say, "my grandkid can out rebound your grandkid or my grandkid's batting average is higher than you grandkid's batting average." Bill loved watching his grandkids perform and never missed an opportunity to catch a game in Coeur d'Alene or on the road.

Bill loved his wife Marlis and deep down he knew she was the cornerstone of his life. Bill's three daughters were his pride and joy and he cared for and counseled them until his last day. The sporting community as a whole just lost a giant fan, but Bill's family lost its patriarch and the coach who has led all of us through our lives. We will miss you, grandpa.

He is survived by his wife, Marlis at home; his daughters and sons-in-law, Lorrie and Calvin DeHaas of Coeur d'Alene, Michelle and Tim Sperber of Genesee, Idaho, and Judi Price of Spokane; his brothers Richard and Bernie Beyer, both of Sandpoint; his sisters Deanna Baber of Heron, Mont., Corrine Bond and Patsy Sletager, both of Sandpoint; six grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Teresa Beyer; a brother, Jim; and a sister, Elenor.

Viewing will be from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 15, followed by a funeral service at 1:30 p.m., both at Yates Funeral Home, Coeur d'Alene Chapel, which is handling arrangements. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery in Coeur d'Alene.

Memorial donations can be made to the North Idaho College Booster Club, Attn: Athletic Department, 1000 W. Garden Ave., Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814. Please visit Bill's memorial and sign his online guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.