Lt. Col. Herbert C. "Bert" Haight, USMC

Lt. Col. Herbert C. "Bert" Haight, 81, passed away Sunday, Sept. 28, 2014, in Rathdrum, Idaho.

Bert was born Oct. 23, 1932, to Herbert S. and Marie Haight in San Francisco, Calif. He graduated from San Mateo High School and attended San Jose State College where he earned his business degree in 1955. In 1973 he earned an MBA from Gonzaga University.

Bert served in the United States Marine Corps for 28 years, first joining in 1953 and serving in Okinawa and the Philippines. He was awarded the Philippine Liberation Medal by the government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Filipino people. After active duty he served in the Reserves.

In 1968, Bert moved to Spokane and served as the commanding officer of the Spokane Marine Corps Reserve Unit. Every year he attended the Marine Corps Ball, and in 1976-77 he was president of the USMCR Spokane Military Ball Association.

He worked for the City of Spokane as an agent for the Right-of-Way Department, and was instrumental in the acquisition of key properties for Expo '74.

In 1973, Bert joined the Spokane Elks Lodge #228, earning his way through the chairs to Exalted Ruler and Washington State District Deputy.

From 1975 to 1982, Bert was the first employee of the Spokane Housing Authority as Executive Director. Following HUD guidelines, he wrote the lease for the applicants under "Section 8" the existing housing program, including the Decent, Safe and Sanitary Inspection Report. Upon his departure of the SHA, Bert had 1,500 tenants and just completed rehabbing the Spokane Parsons Hotel into public housing.

From October 1985 to May 1991, upon appointment by President Ronald Reagan, Bert served as one of seven personal appointees to the 30-member "1492 Christopher Columbus Quincentenary Jubilee Commission," completing 26 trips around the world developing programs for the 500 year celebration of the Discovery of America.

Bert was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Marine Corps Reserve Officers Association, the National Rifle Association, and a member of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. He also served on the Rathdrum City Planning and Zoning Commission from 2007 to 2010, the last year as chairman.

Bert was married to Carole Mann for 17 years, and they had two children.

In 1990, Bert married Carol Arrasmith. Bert and Carol moved to Twin Lakes Village in 1994, and then to their home in the city of Rathdrum, Idaho, in 2006. In retirement, Bert worked as a substitute teacher for the Coeur d'Alene schools, enjoyed traveling, playing bridge, and walking his dog, Sugar Baby.

Bert is survived by his wife, Carol; daughter Carron Leigh Haight of Boston, Mass., and son Herbert Cameron Haight, Jr. (Leslie) of Fredericksburg, Texas; stepchildren Dayna Arrasmith of Hillsboro, Ore., and Darin Arrasmith (Joan) of West Richland, Wash.; and grandchildren Katherine Haight, Jack Haight, Sean Arrasmith and Zachary Arrasmith.

At Bert's request, there will be no memorial service and his ashes will be inurned in the Columbarium at Arlington National Cemetery. English Funeral Chapel, Coeur d'Alene, is in care of arrangements.