Norman Terry Riffe, 91

Norman Terry Riffe of Hope, Idaho, passed away peacefully on Friday, May 2, 2008, at the age of 91 in Sandpoint, Idaho, from complications of a stroke on March 1 of this year. He was active and always in great humor up until the time of his stroke. Even after the stroke, he kept his sense of humor and always was asking his visitors, “How are you doing?” as he was more concerned for those around him than himself.

Norman was born March 3, 1917, in Ukiah, Calif., to Lester Lee Riffe and Helen Marie Terry, and was the younger of two siblings Miriam and Fredrick. He grew up in Hollister, Calif., working in the orchards when not in school. As a youth he was an active athlete, participating in football and track and field, especially javelin.

Norman was married to Barbara Annette Anderson, his wife of 67 years, on Aug. 9, 1941, in Berkley, Calif. They met while he was attending the school of engineering at the University of California in Berkley. He and Barbara raised a family of five children in Walnut Creek, Calif., prior to moving to the home in Hope.

Norman was an active general partner in Riffe, Shipherd and Jones, a civil engineering firm in the San Ramon Valley, Calif. The firm played an active part in the growth of the San Francisco bay area after World War II and he retired in 1975 to his home on the Hope peninsula. He enjoyed his season tickets to 49er football games, even those many years that they had losing seasons.

Norman and family discovered Hope, Lake Pend Oreille and the Sam Owen campground in 1955 when on a summer camping tour. It was love at first sight and he purchased property on the end of the Hope point for the family home in 1961. He completed the home on the point in 1965 and was thereafter an active member of the community.

Norman and his dog companions, Spencer, followed by Winchester, were well known to friends as he always came to show and share his rocks and lapidary. He loved to take trips with his rock hounding friends searching and digging for more rocks. He especially enjoyed working his “gemstones” into unique gifts for family and friends.

He was also known as an avid “racehorse” pinochle player and would play as much as possible during the winter, when weather and roads would permit. If he could not play in Hope or Clark Fork, he would host game nights at his home in Hope. Just as in life, he would always find a way to “shoot the moon” on improbable hands.

He always “played the hands” that were dealt to him, even if they were the difficult ones such as the death of his daughters at an early age in life. He was a generous man, always willing to help in moral and financial support to his family, friends and community.

Norman was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara on March 31, 1999; two daughters, Lucinda Lee Wilbur in 1985 and Annette Elizabeth Riffe in 1992; his sister Miriam in 2006 and his brother Fredrick in 1973.

He is survived by his three sons, Larry Tilden Riffe of Sandpoint, Christopher Terry Riffe of Hope, and Dana Thomas Riffe of Chattanooga, Tenn.; five grandchildren, Michelle Rene (Fullington) Riffe of Sandpoint, Shawn Bemis Riffe of Sandpoint, Casey Larkin Riffe of Billings, Mont., Megan Atwood Riffe of Sandpoint, and Jeffrey Wilbur of Seattle, Wash.; and great-granddaughters, Kyler Lois Healey, Nicole Elizabeth Jensen, and Kira Fae MacLachlan, all of Sandpoint.

A memorial service for family and friends is to be held at Norman’s home on Saturday, May 24, 2008 at 1 p.m. An online memorial guestbook is provided by Lakeview Funeral Home at http://www.lakeviewfuneral.com. The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, donations to be made in Norman’s name to Second Chance Pet Adoptions in Bonners Ferry or the Clark Fork High School Boosters.

The family would like to thank the entire staff of Life Care in Sandpoint for their caring services for Norman’s last two months and all of Norman’s friends who have provided us support and understanding though his final stage of life.