Earl Martin Magnus, 87

Earl Martin Magnus, 87, of Hayden, Idaho, died Monday, April 18, 2016, at Kootenai Health after suffering a massive heart attack. Earl was born Sept. 6, 1929, to Martin and Edna Magnus in Cheyenne Wells, Colo. He was the seventh of 10 children. He attended high school in Colorado. In 1949, he joined the Army and drove truck in Korea for three years.

After his service, he returned to his family in Hayden Lake, Idaho. There he met Marcella “Boots” Powell. They were married May 25, 1953, in Superior, Mont. Their first home was in the Rimrock area of Hayden where they resided until moving to Enaville, Idaho, in 1956. They returned to the Rimrock area in 1971 and moved to Hayden in 2005.

Earl worked at the Bunker Hill Mine in Kellogg, Idaho, for 19 years as a rigger. He was always a cowboy but had worked as a logger and a veterinary assistant also. Earl was also a welding fabricator, a true horseman and stockman.

He loved the Lord and his family always came first. He enjoyed hosting roping events at the family arena in the Rimrock area. His perfected horsemanship was obvious to all onlookers. He broke and trained horses for many years. He also loved to play poker and have a cold beer with his family members. Later in life he enjoyed gardening. He was a devoted member of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church.

Earl was loved by everyone who knew him. He was a straight-shooter when it came to conversation and always loved to entertain his family and friends at the family home.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Boots, of 54 years; his parents, Martin and Edna Magnus; his brothers and sisters-in-law, Ralph and Ruth Magnus, Dale and Helen Magnus, and Roy Magnus; his sisters, and brothers-in-law, Lucille and Eddie Lloyd, Norma and Temple Watson, Joan and Lloyd Williams, and Lou Orr.

Earl is survived by his sons and daughters-in-law, Keith and Suey Magnus of the Rimrock area in Hayden, and Mitch and Cindy Magnus of Hayden; his daughter and son-in-law, Jan and Steve Bowen of Dalton Gardens, Idaho; his five grandchildren, Jess and Jimmy Magnus of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Andy Magnus of Worley, Wendy Brondt of Coeur d’Alene, Jenifer Stokes of Athol; seven great-grandchildren.; his sisters and brothers-in-law, Verna Orr of Hampstead, N.C., Marvel and Ron Wellborn of Colorado Springs, Colo.; and his brother and sisters-in-law, Wayne and Betty Magnus, and JoAnn Magnus, all of the Rimrock area in Hayden, and Dorothy Magnus of Colorado Springs.

A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Monday, April 25, 2016, at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Rathdrum, Idaho. Pastor Neil Bloom will officiate. A time of remembrance will be held at the church following the service. Yates Funeral Homes is in charge of arrangements. His ashes will be placed in the Rimrock Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children Hospital or the Salvation Army in Coeur d’Alene. Please sign his online guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.