Jason Slinger, 50

Jason Matthew Slinger

April 2, 1974 - Feb. 11, 2025

Jason Slinger, adored husband, father, and friend to so many, tragically and suddenly lost his short courageous battle with cancer Feb. 11, 2025.

Jason was born to Pamela Faye Houston and Jerry Slinger on April 2, 1974, in Sandpoint, Idaho. He was a feisty independent child of a single mom who grew up playing in the woods, jumping off bridges and learning some of life’s most valuable lessons the hard way.

His sense of adventure was fostered in his childhood, but his passion for the outdoors was instilled in him by his grandfather and mentor Dick Slinger, who helped raise Jason and taught him everything he knew about hunting, fishing and respecting wildlife. The greatest joy of Jason’s life was hunting and fishing with his sons and his friends, and he found the most peace of his life in the woods.

Jason first laid eyes on the love of his life, Demarie Glazier, in the halls of Priest River Lamanna High School, sometime in the early 1990s. He told her he knew at that moment he would love her forever, and he truly did. They spent too many years apart before reconnecting and finally becoming husband and wife in 2009. The two, along with their cherished sons Hunter (born 3/3/01 to Jason and Cynthia) and Austin (who Jason loved and considered his own son) shared the next 15 years growing in their love and building a beautiful life with family always at its heart.

Jason dreamed of being in law enforcement his whole life. He achieved his dream and ultimately retired from the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office in 2010 after 18 years of total service. Jason made the best friends of his life working in law enforcement and he considered every one of them his family. Jason was also known and respected for not just writing tickets or making arrests, but for truly doing everything in his power to help those he encountered. Many people who came to be arrested by Jason would turn their lives around because of his guidance, patience and wisdom, some of whom remain devoted friends to this day. 

After retiring, Jason served with the Department of Defense as a civilian contractor in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he trained the Iraqi police force before returning home and opening North Ridge Outfitters in Oldtown, Idaho, in November of 2017. Since then, Jason has continued to serve his community, donating to countless causes and treating his customers to his ready smile and willing ear, until his cancer diagnosis July 23, 2024, took him away from doing what he loved.

Jason was the best of us. His laugh was contagious, and his smile lit up the world, he had stories for days and could tell them like no other. Jason’s fight against this brutal, horrific disease was incredibly brave and his death was completely unexpected, he was not ready to leave us, and we were not ready to let him go. This immense loss has devastated Jason’s family and friends, but particularly his wife and children who love him fiercely and could never have imagined living life without him.

Jason is survived by his beloved wife, Demarie Slinger; his sons, Hunter Slinger, Austin (Sara) Glazier, and Trent Slinger; his grandchildren, Russell, Rainey and Harper; his Uncle Rob and Aunt Patricia of Hattiesburg, Miss.; and countless other friends and family members. Jason was preceded in death by his mom, Pamela Faye Houston, who he loved dearly, as well as his grandparents Dick and Mary Slinger and his father Jerry Slinger.

A celebration of Jason’s precious life will be held March 3, 2025, at 1 p.m. at Elkins Resort: 404 Elkins Road, Nordman, ID 83848.

Sherman-Campbell Funeral Home in Newport, Wash., is in charge of arrangements. Family and friends are welcome to visit their website at shermancampbell.com.