Nordeen 'Skinny' Iverson, 99

Nordeen “Skinny” Iverson, 99, passed away in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho on Friday, July 18, 2008.

Private family services will be held. Burial will be at sea with his former shipmates.

Nordeen was born on Dec. 7, 1908, in Silverton, Ore., the son of James and Anna (Tiegen) Iverson. He was the youngest of eight children. He grew up on a 300 acre farm and attended grade school in Silverton. In 1921, at the age of 13, Nordeen and his family moved to Kalispell, Mont., where his Dad worked in the local sawmills.

 In 1922, the family moved to Coeur d’Alene, where Nordeen graduated from high school in 1927.

To help out the family, during those times, Nordeen would dive for money off the pilings at the city dock where steam boats from Harrison would arrive and depart.

He also worked at odd jobs and played baseball for the Coeur d’Alene town team. While attending a Spokane Indians baseball game in 1940, he met Mildred Haynes the love of his life. They were married on July 11, 1941.

Nordeen joined the Navy in 1942 and trained at Farragut Naval Station. He served aboard the USS Gambier Bay which was sunk on Oct. 25, 1944, during the battle of Leyte Gulf near the Philippines.

After the war, he worked as a bartender and manager of the Coeur d’Alene Elks club for several years and was a member of the Elk’s club for 65 years.

He and Mildred moved to San Diego in 1965 to manage apartment units until 1971, residing in Coeur d’Alene and Sandpoint following his retirement.

He was preceded in death by his parents, siblings and his wife in 2006.

He is survived by his son Terry (Edna) Iverson of Sandpoint, Idaho, and Don (Shirley) Haynes of Clackamas, Ore.; his grandchildren Lansing (Lee) Haynes, Dana Haynes, Mary (Steve) Sebers, Tyler (Erica) Haynes, Justin Iverson and Amy (Eric) Mitton; and nine great-grandchildren.

Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint is handling the arrangements. Please visit Nordeen’s memorial at www.lakeviewfuneral.com and sign is online guest book.