L.W. 'Bill' Palmer, 82
L.W. “Bill” Palmer, 82, of Sagle passed away in Sandpoint, Idaho on Tuesday, April 16, 2019.
Funeral services will be conducted on Friday, April 26, 2019, at 11 a.m. at Coffelt’s Funeral Chapel, 109 N. Division, with a graveside service to follow at Pinecrest Cemetery.
Following the service, friends are invited to join the family for a catered meal and sharing of stories at the Sagle Senior Center, 650 Monarch Road, Sagle. Gathering for the meal and sharing will be around 1 p.m.
Bill was born in Van Nuys, California, on August 1, 1936, the son of Gerald and Mary Ellen Palmer (Greer). He was the younger of two brothers. Bill spent most of his young life in Thousand Oaks, California.
At an early age, Bill developed a love of trucking. He started commercially hauling and delivering produce in California in 1952.
Bill later served with the United States Navy Seabees from 1954-1956. He married Karen Rings-trum and they had two boys, Rick and Leon.
The family relocated to a small farm on Colburn-Culver Road near Sandpoint, Idaho. Bill drove logging truck for Pack River Lumber Co. for many years before purchasing a long haul truck and going to work for Yellowstone Trucking Company. His haul routes covered most of the United States. During this time Karen passed away after a long battle with cancer.
Bill met Marilyn (Bossio) Moline at “Burt’s Place.” He asked her to dance and their romance began. They were married in August 1984.
Bill and Marilyn spent several years trucking together across the country, sharing the driving. They had many adventures and met lifelong friends along the way.
Bill’s health caused him to leave driving and the couple opened up Pine Tree Alignment Service in Rathdrum, Idaho. From there they branched out into B&M Trucking, where they owned approximating 23 trucks that hauled building material to five states.
Bill and Marilyn enjoyed the association and friendship of all the truckers that worked for them.
Bill retired from the business in 1997 due to failing health. From this time on, his health declined and several times he wasn’t expected to live. The family was always amazed that he had the strength to rally back. The family joked he seemed to have nine lives or was just needed here on earth.
Bill loved family and enjoyed their visits. He was a member of St. Pius Catholic Church of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
If you have stories or memories of Bill that you would like shared at the memorial service, please put them in writing and the officiating minister will gladly read them.
Bill is survived by his wife, Marilyn, at their home in Sagle; his sons, Leon of Colorado, and Rick of Spirit Lake, Idaho; a brother, Jerry Palmer of Sun Valley, California; his stepdaughters, Lucille Blydenstien (Larry) of Redmond Oregon, and Crystal Gunter (Don) Sagle; 10 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren
Bill was proceeded in death by both parents, Gerald and Mary Ellen; his wife, Karen; stepson, Rod Moline; and a longtime friend and partner, Stan Adams.
Rest in peace, free from pain, Bill you will be missed.
Family and friends are invited to sign Bill’s online guestbook at coffeltfuneral.com.
Funeral arrangements are under the care of Coffelt Funeral Service of Sandpoint.