Orville C. Berkey, 82

Orville C. Berkey, 82, passed away in Spokane, Wash., on Saturday, Aug. 25, 2007.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 31, 2007, in Coffelt's Funeral Chapel, 109 N. Division Ave., in Sandpoint, Idaho. Pastor Mark Wendle, Clark Fork United Methodist Church, will officiate. Fraternal rites and veteran's honors will be conferred.

Orville was born on Dec. 24, 1924, in Hope, Idaho, and was valedictorian form the Hope High School graduating class of 1942. During World War II he served with the U.S. Army infantry in the South Pacific, seeing action in New Guinea and helping with the liberation of the Philippines.

Following the war he logged in North Idaho and married Geraldine Austin on Dec. 3, 1949 in Thompson Falls, Mont. He lived in Hope from 1960 until moving to Clark Fork, Idaho, in 1973.

He built powerlines in the area and then followed heavy construction throughout the Northwest. His last job was working on the Alaskan Pipeline on the Northslope of Alaska. He retired from Prudoe Bay, Alaska in 1983 as a heavy equipment operator.

He was a member of the Clark Fork United Methodist Church and the International Operating Engineers No. 302 out of Seattle. He was a member of Lakeside Masonic Lodge No. 42 AF and AM, the Scottish Rite, the Lewiston Calam Shrine, and the Panhandle Shrine Club. He was a member of the Order of Eastern Star Martha Chapter No. 34 in Sandpoint and Mt Silcox Chapter No. 111 in Thompson Falls. He belonged to the Grange No. 448 in Clark Fork and the IOOF Lodge out of Plummer, Idaho.

He enjoyed fishing, hunting, tinkering, gardening, Wednesday night poker, and traveling with Gerry.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Gerry Berkey of Clark Fork; two daughters and sons-in-law, Carolyn L. and Thomas Roche of San Diego, Calif., and Yvette D. and Rob White of Spokane, Wash.; four grandchildren, Jennifer Berkey Fritz of Hope, Shawn T. Berkey of Everett, Wash., Yvonne D. Cluever of Spokane, and Ashley Roche of Elmsford, N.Y.; two great-grand children, Samantha M. Berkey of Hope and Micah D. Cluever of Spokane.

He was preceded in death by Yvonne Berkey in 1954 and Douglas C. Berkey in 2001, and a brother Bobby Berkey.

Memorials may be made to the Shriners Hospitals for Children, PO Box 2472, Spokane, WA 99210 - 2472.