William Henry Menghini, 56

William Henry Menghini, 56, passed away at his home in Sandpoint, Idaho, on Saturday, May 30, 2009, due to a sudden heart attack.

Funeral Mass will be held at 3 p.m. on Thursday, June 4, 2009, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Sandpoint with Father Carlos Perez officiating.

Viewing for friends and family will be held from 3-7 p.m. today, Wednesday, June 3, at the Lakeview Funeral Home, with a Vigil service to follow at 7 p.m.

Will was born on Nov. 30, 1952, in Great Falls, Mont., to Henry and Catherine (Shea) Menghini. He grew up and attended schools in Power, Mont., graduating in 1971.

Will attended Eastern Montana College in Billings for one year prior to being drafted into the United States Army, where he was stationed at Ft. Ord for two years. Upon his discharge from the military he enrolled at Montana State University, where he received his electrical engineering degree in 1978.

Will married Julie Blair on Sept. 4, 1976, in Peoria, Ill.

Will’s electrical engineering career began first in Spokane with Washington Water Power, transferring to Coeur d’Alene in 1986, to Sandpoint in 1994, and Spokane in 2004, where he was the network engineer for Avista in downtown Spokane. Will also owned a consulting firm, he investigated electrical contact injuries and fires for the utilities.

Will was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, a past Rotarian, past SARS board president, and a current board member for the Festival at Sandpoint, as well as many other boards and committees throughout his career. He enjoyed skiing, backpacking, biking, golfing, kayaking, and wine tasting and bottling.

 He is survived by his loving wife of 32  years, Julie Menghini of Sandpoint; two daughters, Katrina Menghini and fiancé, Mark Regier, of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Angela Menghini, of the University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii; a son, Louis Menghini of Helena, Mont.; his parents, Henry and Catherine Menghini of Power, Mont.; three sisters, Carol (Ron) Ostberg of Fairfield, Mont., Janice (Doug) Denson of Twin Bridges, Mont., and Kathy Shanahan of Kalispell, Mont.

He was preceded in death by his brother-in-law, John Shanahan.

Memorial donations may be made in Will’s name to the Festival at Sandpoint, PO Box 695, Sandpoint, ID 83864.

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