Lyle Alvin Colby, 81

Lyle Alvin Colby, 81, died peacefully at his home in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, on Oct. 26, 2007, after a long battle with cancer.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2007, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Bonners Ferry with Pastors Steve Dornfeld and Dean Peterson officiating. Private interment followed at Grandview Cemetery. Bonners Ferry Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

The third of six children in the family of Miles A. and Altha F. (Bailey) Colby, Lyle was born Feb. 13, 1926, at Plummer, Idaho. He grew up in Harrison, Idaho, and graduated from St. Maries High School, St. Maries, Idaho, in 1943. He served in World War II with the U.S. Navy as an aviation electrician. After his honorable discharge in 1948, he returned to St. Maries where he met and married Frances Marie Brown Feb. 26, 1949, at Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Their marriage was blessed with three daughters Linda Marie, Vicki Lynn and Dianne Joyce.

Lyle was a groceryman most of his working career. He began at age 15 working as a boxboy for Safeway Stores, Inc, in St. Maries. When he returned from the Navy, he resumed his employment with Safeway and advanced to the position of manager at the St. Maries store. He managed several Safeway stores in Spokane, Wash., and the stores at Omak, Wash., and Sandpoint, Idaho, before leaving the company in 1969.

For many years Lyle raised beef cattle and had a small dairy herd. He moved to Bonners Ferry in 1970 where he worked for Louisiana Pacific at Moyie Springs. He owned and operated Cone's Cafe and Grocery in Bonners Ferry from 1976 until 1981. Lyle retired from Louisiana Pacific in 1992.

After his retirement Lyle and Frances enjoyed camping and traveling across the U.S. When Frances became disabled, Lyle devoted the rest of his life to selflessly caring for her. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and American Legion Boundary Post No. 55. He enjoyed watching birds, playing cards, growing strawberries and tomatoes and spending time with his family. Lyle was a kind and quiet man who lived his faith and will always be remembered for his gentleness, his honesty and his generosity.

Preceding Lyle in death were his parents, brother Roy Colby, sister Melba Smith and brother-in-law Harry Svoboda. Surviving are his wife Frances at the home, daughters Linda (Mike) Ashby, Bonners Ferry, Vicki (Troy) Blake, Burbank, Wash., and Dianne (Joe) Cousins, Sandpoint; sisters Ramona (Thomas) Fish and Donna Svoboda, Kennewick, Wash.; brother Melvin (Velda) Colby, Richland, Wash.; and brothers-in-law Glenn (Jody) Smith, Yuma, Ariz., and Richard Brown, Sagle, Idaho.

Lyle leaves behind many grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Tanya (Ben) Nystrom and Audrey, Wallace, Clayton and Anders, Bonners Ferry; Brian Ashby, Bonners Ferry; Allen (Jennifer) Ashby, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; Amanda (Scott) McGillivray, Salem, Ore.; Lisa (Jamy) Landis and Joella and Aleyah, Sutton, Alaska; Thomas (Heidi) Blake, Eatonville, Wash.,; Kristen (Greg) Ditty and Isaic, Ethen and Deven, Burbank, Wash.,; Travis (Kim) Blake and Troy, Burbank, Wash.; Stacey (Kevin) Kennedy and Austin, Shaylynn and Cameron, Burbank, Wash., Heather Conard, Las Vegas, Nev., Jeff Conard, Sandpoint, Chris (Briana) Cousins and Chyah and Joseph, Huntsville, Ala.; and Stephen (Kimberley) Cousins, Tacoma, Wash. Lyle considered as his "adopted granddaughter" Joanna Ott, Sandpoint. Numerous nieces and nephews also survive.

The family suggests memorials be made to Bonner Community Hospice, PO Box 1448, Sandpoint, ID, 83864.

Please visit Bonners Ferry Funeral Home online at www.bonnersferryfuneralhome.com and sign Lyle's online guest book.