Gerald Boyd 'Buzz' Bricker, 80

Gerald Boyd “Buzz” Bricker, passed away in Libby, Mont., on Wednesday, June 1, 2016, at the age of 80.

Graveside services for Buzz will be conducted 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 18, at Pinecrest Memorial Park in Sandpoint, Idaho.

Buzz was born on June 26, 1935, in Douglas, Wyo., to Harley and Esther Bricker. The family moved to North Idaho in 1936 and lived at Laclede where Buzz attended school and then high school in Priest River. He went to work for the Great Northern Railroad in 1954.

In 1957, Buzz moved to Seward, Alaska, and lived with his sister, Jean Bricker Morton, and her husband, Hugh, and went to work for the Alaskan Railroad. In 1958, he was drafted into the U.S. Army. He attended basic at Fort Ord, Calif., and then was stationed at Ft. Lewis, Wash.

After leaving the service in 1960, Buzz worked on the Washing-ton coast. He met his wife-to-be, Karen, there. Karen was a big fan of country western music and sang in a band. In 1965, they took a trip to Nashville, Tenn., and were married and spent their honeymoon there. On their return from Tennessee they settled in Puyallup, Wash.

Over the years, Buzz worked for Weyerhaeuser Lumber, Baxter Pole, Cascade Pole, St. Regis Lumber and then for Simpson Lumber for 22 years. He retired in 1999.

Buzz was a 30-year member of the Eagles Lodge Aerie No. 3480 in Orting, Wash.

In 2014, Buzz and Karen moved to Libby, Mont., where he has several family members.

Buzz was preceded in death by his parents, Esther and Harley Bricker; his sister, Dolores McDowell; and his brother, Herbert Bricker. He is survived by his wife, Karen in Libby; his sisters, Jean Morton of Libby, Sharon (Bill) McInturff of Hayden, Idaho, and Judy Morton of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; three stepsons: Clint, Cliff, and Clay; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank Addus Home Health Care in Libby for his loving home care over the last year.

Family and friends are invited to sign the online guestbook, for Buzz, at www.coffletfuneral.com.

Funeral services are under the care of Coffelt Funeral Service of Sandpoint, Idaho.