Vern O. Widmer, 89

Vern O. Widmer passed away at Hospice House of North Idaho early on the morning of Oct. 27, 2014, with his daughter holding his hand. He was 89 years old.

Born in Bismarck, N.D., on Jan. 21, 1925, to German parents Oscar Widmer and Lydia Sommerfeld Widmer, he was the second of nine children. His youngest brother, Robert Widmer of Pleasanton, Calif., survives parents and siblings.

Raised in North Dakota, Vern often said, "There is nothing between North Dakota and the North Pole but a barbed wire fence, and it's down." He grew up working hard on the farm and claims to not speaking English until grade school. At age 11 Vern went to Wisconsin and lived with relatives.

At 17 Vern enlisted in the Navy Seabees and served in the military for a short time at the beginning of World War II, but being underage he was not allowed to go into combat overseas. He headed west in the 1950s, settling in southern Idaho where he ran a machine shop in the town of Kimberly. His nickname was Smokey, probably because he was a welder.

In approximately 1959, Vern moved his family to North Idaho - first the Silver Valley, and then in 1965 to Dalton Gardens where he spent the remainder of his life. He was a heavy equipment mechanic and operator until forced to retire after open-heart surgery in 1980. Work on the construction of Boundary Dam, Grand Coulee Dam, and Upper and Lower Monumental Dams, as well as numerous road projects, kept him away from home much of the time.

Like his mother, Vern had a green thumb. He treasured plants she had given him such as a yellow rose from the farm in North Dakota, which grows at his gate. He also liked to fish. There was the annual Labor Day trip to Red Fir Resort on Lake Pend Oreille near Hope, Idaho. After catching the limit of Blue Back, Vern would smoke them in a homemade smoker and we snacked on the yummy fish all winter. He was a member of the Eagles until 2005, and enjoyed traveling in his motorhome after retirement.

Vern's mother and beloved little dog "Killer" passed away within a few months of each other in the year 2000. Legally blind due to advanced macular degeneration, he gave up his driver's license around the year 2006 but was very independent. If he wanted to go somewhere he would call a cab. He frequented certain local restaurants and, until recently, enjoyed breakfast with his daughter and son-in-law every weekend. He is probably best known for his crusty hat that says, "I'm so nice I'm proud of myself."

Vern is survived by two children: Verna Dandelski of Hayden, Idaho, and Val Widmer of Washtucna, Wash.; seven grandchildren: Vernon, Kerry, Lydia, Wayne, Blair, R.J., and Meagan; six great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. Others who were very dear to him include Sheryl Houston and Marta Sanford.

A memorial will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 22, at the Blue Plate Cafe, 10015 N. Government Way, Hayden.

Vern loved flowers, but they pass as well. So, in lieu of flowers, please consider a gift in Vern's memory to Hospice of North Idaho, 9493 N. Government Way, Hayden, ID 83835.