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Leon ‘Butch’ Sparks, 67

| April 2, 2020 1:00 AM

Leon “Butch” Sparks, 67, passed away on Wednesday, March 25, 2020 in Hope, Idaho.

A celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

Butch was born on April 12, 1952, in Yankton, South Dakota, to Walter and Lorraine Sparks. After growing up in Pinehurst, Idaho, he joined the U.S. Navy and was stationed aboard the USS Okinawa (LPH-3). In May of 1970, while en route from Hawaii to Auck-land, New Zealand, aboard this vessel, he crossed the Equator at Latitude 0000 and Longitude 164.14 W. and so became fully initiated into the Solemn Myst-eries of the Ancient Order of the Deep.

After his military service, he returned to Idaho and began his career as a long-haul truck driver. In the early 1980s, he moved to Sandpoint, Idaho, where he met and married Alischia in 1987. The couple had two children before their divorce. Butch had an ornery spirit and at the same time, was an extremely honest and generous man.

When Butch wasn’t behind the wheel of his long-haul rig, he enjoyed fishing, fixing up cars, and family barbecues with rock ‘n’ roll music from the 1970s, but the most important thing in his life were his children and grandchildren.

He is survived by his two sons, Joey (Trisha) and Hunnter Sparks; his daughter, Nikkia Sparks; four stepchildren, Wanona, William, Danny and Skyler; three grandchildren, Mya, Wade and Maci; his brother, Sonny (Judy) Sparks; and sister Karyn (Kenny) Letuseck.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his son Mathew, and his sister Patsy.

Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint is handling the arrangements.

Please visit Leon’s online memorial at lakeviewfuneral.com and sign his guest book.