William “Coach Bill” Miles, 84

"Coach" Bill Miles was born on Sept. 10, 1928, to Jim and Gwen Miles in Kellogg. Bill graduated from Kellogg High School in 1946 and joined the U.S. Navy. Serving the Navy for two years, Bill then enrolled in college at Eastern Washington; he transferred to North Idaho College of Education at Lewiston where he played football and baseball. While at NICE, he met the love of his life, Fern Follin; they were married in 1950 and celebrated 62 years together.

Bill taught and coached for 34 years in Hoquiam, Wash.; in Toledo, Gold Beach, The Dalles and Redmond, Ore.; and in Moscow; and his most memorable win in football was the Moscow High School win over Borah High School in Boise. Bill mentored and provided leadership to thousands of student-athletes helping shape their lives into responsible adults, often opening the Miles home to student-athletes as a safe-haven from harm or duress.

Bill is survived by his wife, Fern; four daughters, Billie Grobe and husband Jeff of Prescott, AZ, Shelley Roberts-Ross and husband Steele of Yreka, Calif.; Jeri Rainer and husband Paul of Moscow; Kathy Keliihoomalu and husband Paul of Mountain View, Hawaii; and son Jim Miles and wife Vicki of Olathe, Kan.; one sister, Sally Sharpe; five grandsons, Jake and Jeff W. Grobe, Jess and Kyle Rainer, Bill Roberts-Ross, and one granddaughter, Allison Roberts-Ross; three great-granddaughters and one great grandson. In addition to his direct family there is one student-athlete considered as a son, Ted Wiberg and wife Joy.

Memorial Service will be held at 2:30pm Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013, at Yates Funeral Home, Coeur d’Alene Chapel. Please visit Bill’s online memorial and sign his guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.