Robert 'Dale' Selle, 67

Robert "Dale" Selle, 67, suddenly passed away at an outdoor bluegrass festival on Saturday, June 30, 2007 in Colville, Wash..

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, July 16, 2007, at Coffelt's Funeral Chapel, 109 N. Division Ave., in Sandpoint, Idaho. Pastor Jon Pomeroy will officiate.

Dale was born Sept. 16, 1939 in Sandpoint, Idaho, to Bob and Florence (Hawkins) Selle. He graduated third in his Sandpoint High School class in 1957.

Dale married his high school sweetheart Patricia Jonassen on Aug. 9, 1958, had six children, 12 grandchildren, and nearly 49 wonderful years together. He received a degree in education in 1961 from the University of Idaho and a master's degree in education of exceptional children in 1967 from San Francisco State College.

He served in the active Army reserves from 1957 to 1961. Dale raised his family in Deer Park, Wash., and enjoyed a career as a devoted teacher of the hearing impaired for several schools in Spokane, Wash., and retired early in 1984. In the summer of 1985, Dale and Pat fulfilled a lifelong dream, hiking the length of Idaho from Utah to Canada.

Dale later returned to teaching in Sandpoint, Idaho, from 1985 to 1990. Dale and Pat stayed in the Sandpoint area until only recently when they moved to Arden, Wash.

Dale loved the outdoors, telling humorous stories, researching his family history, and spending quality time with his family and grandchildren. He will truly be missed by everyone fortunate enough to have known and loved him.

Dale is survived by his wife Patricia of Arden; his sisters, Donna Barber of Seattle, Wash., and Kay Bachman of Priest River, Idaho; six children Kathy (Bill) Turner of Spokane, Karen McLean of Arden, Bob (Lorie) Selle of Deer Park, Wash., Laurie (Jerry) Goodnight of Spokane, Wash., Trisha Selle of Liberty Lake, Wash., and Deanna Duncan of Clayton, Wash.; and 12 grandchildren, Seth, Ashley and Zachary McLean, Tonya and Danielle Turner, Lance and Bailey Selle, Kevin, Cameron and Alissa Goodnight, and Mitchell and Amber Duncan.

Memorial donations may be given to Bonner County Historical Society 611 S. Ella St., Sandpoint, ID 83864.

Family and friends are invited to sign Dale's online guest book and view his obituary at www.coffeltfuneral.com

Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Coffelt Funeral Service.