Milan D. LaMarche, 82

Milan D. LaMarche, 82, passed away in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, on Saturday, May 12, 2007.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 18, 2007, in Coffelt's Funeral Chapel. Interment, with military honors, will be in Pinecrest Memorial Park. Pastor Mark Wendle, Clark Fork United Methodist Church, will officiate.

Friends may call, to pay their respects, on Thursday afternoon from 2-6 p.m. at Coffelt Funeral Service.

Milan was born in Wapato, Wash., on March 23, 1925, the son of Hector and Violet LaMarche.

His boyhood home was in Clark Fork where he attended school.

He moved to Newport, Wash., in the ninth grade, and graduated from Newport High School.

He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on March 19, 1943, training at Farragut Naval Base in radio school.

He served on the USS Platano in 1944, boarding the USS Lundy's Lane in December 1944 as a radioman.

He also served on the USS Lang DD 399 and was stationed in San Francisco, Seattle, and Kirkland, Wash.

He was discharged on March 14, 1946, and returned to Clark Fork.

On April 12, 1947 he married Geraldine Brooks and she preceded him in death.

Milan worked as the station agent for Spokane International Railroad in Sandpoint.

He followed his father, and other family members, in working for the SI. On March 1, 1987, he retired after 40 years with the Spokane International Railroad.

On June 1, 1989 he married Dorothy (Derr) Steinmetz in Sandpoint. They were longtime friends and had both lost their spouses.

Milan and Dolly were able to travel extensively in the western United States, and enjoyed their cruise through the Panama Canal in 1996.

Milan was a longtime member of the Sandpoint Eagle Aerie No. 589 and the American Legion. His retirement years have been spent in Coeur d'Alene.

Milan is survived by his wife, Dorothy LaMarche of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; his children, Linda Leigh (and Michael) LaMarche of Spokane, Wash.,Timothy (and Connie) LaMarche of Portland, Ore., Steven (and Judy) LaMarche of Sagle, Idaho, Roger Steinmetz of Coeur d'Alene, Ethel Steinmetz of Post Falls, Idaho, and Lori Ann (and Michael) Karns of Seattle, Wash.; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

His parents and his first wife Geri preceded him in death.

Family and friends are invited to sign Milan's online guest book, and read his obituary at www.coffeltfuneral.com.

Funeral arrangements are under the care of Coffelt Funeral Service of Sandpoint, Idaho.