Glenn McFarland, 89

Glenn McFarland, 89, a longtime community and political activist, passed away at his home in Clark Fork, Idaho, on Aug. 6, 2008.

Private memorial services will be held at a later date.

He was born on Sept. 3, 1918, in Cumberland, Okla., the son of Octavus and Rebecca White McFarland. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1937, following one and a half years of college at Ada, Okla., serving four years on the USS Lexington.

During shore leave in Bremerton, Wash., he met his future wife, Mary Sutton of Washtucna, Wash., while attending a Washington State College football game in Pullman, Wash.

At the end of his first hitch in the Navy, they were married in Ring Gold, Ga., on Oct. 3, 1941. On Dec. 8, 1941, he re-enlisted  in the Navy and served on the USS Walke as a chief radioman.

His ship was a destroyer escort and was involved in four major battles in the Pacific. Glenn received a Navy letter of commendation and was medically discharged at the end of World War II.

After the war, Glenn worked as an air traffic controller for the Federal Aviation Administration on assignment in San Francisco, Mount Shasta and Montague, Calif., Reno, Nev., Casper, Wyo., and Klamath Falls, Ore.

It was while they were in Montague that the couple returned to part-time farming, raising alfalfa crops that they marketed to dairy farmers in the area. This lead to a two-year search for property throughout the Northwest and Canada that would satisfy their dream of operating a cattle ranch. They found their dream property in the Clark Fork River Valley.

In 1963, Glenn and Mary moved to Clark Fork and established the McFarland Ranch on property they purchased in Idaho and Montana. They raised cattle on their ranch until 1989, when ill health forced Glenn’s retirement.

Glenn helped establish and served as a longtime board member of the Lake Pend Oreille Shoreline Property Owners Association. While living in Mount Shasta, he was a member of the Masonic Lodge. He was a 50-year member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks, a longtime member of the East Bonner County Library District and was instrumental in establishing a branch of the library in Clark Fork. He served on the Bonner County Airport Board and was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

McFarland served for years as legislative District 1 chairman for the Idaho State Democratic Party in the 1970s and 1980s. He was elected and served four terms as an Idaho Democratic representative to the Presidential Electoral College, a Democratic state committeeman for Bonner County and as Idaho Gov. Cecil D. Andrus’ personal representative to the National Governor’s Conference in Washington, D.C., on one occasion when Gov. Andrus was unable to attend.

Glenn’s hobbies included a love for flying, ranching, boating on Lake Pend Oreille and motorcycling on his favorite Harley-Davidson. Over the years, he and Mary enjoyed many motorcycle trips around the United States, England and Europe.

He also had an insatiable appetite for reading.

He particularly delighted in sharing his opinions and observations of the human condition, politics and life in general with his family and many friends.

Glenn is preceded in death by his parents and six sisters. Survivors include his wife, Mary, and daughter, Sarah, both of Clark Fork. Three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren also survive.

Memorials may be made to Bonner Community Hospice, P.O. Box 1448, Sandpoint, ID 83864.

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