Erval Rainey

Erval Rainey passed away at his home on Jan. 5, 2017. Erval will be remembered for his wonderful smile, sense of humor, good nature, love for people (especially children) and his interest in the welfare of others.

Erval’s story began in Jordan, Mont., on Aug. 28, 1920, when he was born to Thomas and Eron Rainey. The family was forced to leave Jordan due to the drought and depression stricken area for a new start in Sagle, Idaho, in 1935. They lived there for one year and then moved to Laclede, Idaho, until 1941. He graduated from the old Sandpoint High school on Pine and Euclid.

Erval married Bonnie Thomas of Laclede in 1941 and they had three children, Karen, Erval “Earp” and Denny. They were divorced later in life. He served his country in the Army during World War II with young children at home. He truly was a part of the “Greatest Generation.”

After the Army, Erval worked with his father, a cattle buyer and seller and spent one year working for Safeway. “I found out I wasn’t an inside person so I quit Safeway and went to dig holes.”

Digging those holes only lasted a month or so, and then his relationship with the utility business continued with his promotion to groundsman in 1950. In 1953 Erval became a lineman for Northern Lights at Priest Lake and his family moved there in 1957. He later became the operations superintendent of all operations of Northern Lights in Sandpoint.

In 1969, he married Lola Hatch of Priest Lake and returned to Sandpoint. Erval became the assistant manager at Northern Lights in 1976 and eventually the general manager in 1982.

After retirement he served 3 1/2 years on the Northern Lights board of directors. And then his second career began as an interim manager in 1992 at the Kootenai Electric Corporation in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, for about two years. He was a champion and pioneer of public power.

Erval was actively involved in politics and local organizations, as a lifetime member of both the Elks and the Eagles clubs. He served on the Idaho State Water board during Phil Batt’s administration and was a personal friend of Idaho’s governor.

One of his memorable moments was a day at the White House for lunch and 17 minutes with former president George H.W. Bush.

Erval is survived by his wife of 47 years, Lola; three children, Karen (Virgil) Roeder of Priest River, Idaho, Erval “Earp” of Oldtown, Idaho, and Denny (Kathy) of Fort Mohave, Ariz.; his stepchildren, Mark Hatch of Vancouver, B.C., Dell Hatch (Kathy Gale) of Coeur d’Alene, and Sue (Larry) Smith of Hope, Idaho; 10 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Ruth Keyser, residing at the LifeCare Center in Sandpoint.

Erval was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Myrtle; and his brothers, Francis, Frank, Robert and an infant, E.J.

Erval will be laid to rest at Evergreen Cemetery in Priest River and a funeral will be held at Coffelt Funeral Home in Sandpoint on Jan. 14, 2017 at 10 a.m. A reception will follow the burial at the Sandpoint Senior Center at 2 p.m.

Memorials in his name may be made to the DayBreak Center in Sandpoint.

Family and friends are invited to sign Erval’s online guest book at www.coffeltfuneral.com.

Arrangements are under the care of Coffelt Funeral Service of Sandpoint.