William Bill Valentine Finney, 88
Bill Finney
William “Bill” Valentine Finney was born February 14, 1927 to John “Jack” Elias Finney and Harriette Anna (Dullanty) Finney, at the family home called “Glen Eyrie” at Kidd Island Bay, Lake Coeur d’Alene. He passed away January 28, 2016 at his home in Coeur d’Alene, after a full and blessed life.
Bill’s formal education began in an old country school in the Kidd Island Bay area with approximately 15 other students. He was a hard worker from a very young age, helping with the family business -- raising silver foxes. He later worked for his older brother, Captain John Finney, on Lake Coeur d’Alene -- shuttling mail, groceries, and tourists. While still a junior in high school, 17-year old Bill asked his mother to sign permission for him to join the Coast Guard. Our country was at war, and he desired to be a part of the war effort. The boy from a peaceful lake town in North Idaho found himself deep in the deadly throes of the Pacific Theater of World War II, working a big gun on the bow of the LST 71, which was involved in taking Okinawa. In the aftermath of WWII, still in the Coast Guard, Bill was sent to the Bering Sea on a weather ship.
Upon his return from World War II, he met and married Mildred Elsie Warner in Seattle in 1948. There he worked as a truck driver for Van Waters & Rogers in Seattle until he and Millie decided to move their young, growing family back to Bill’s hometown of Coeur d’Alene. (The majority of their family continue to live and work here to this day.) Their children and spouses are: Bill & Kay Finney, Jack (deceased) & Darla Finney, Joan Lack, Paul & Sue Finney, Fred & Diane Finney, Jane & Randy Holte, Dave & Marilee Finney, Janet & Dave Weingart, Gary & Mary Jo Finney and Sally & Doug Johnson.
After returning to Coeur d’Alene, Bill built and sold fiberglass boats. In 1963, he took up logging. Bill was a well-respected logger in the community for many years, and several of his sons and grandsons continue in the logging industry. In over a half century of Finney logging, the family has been especially grateful for its safety record and the blessing of God’s protection in this dangerous profession. While still logging with five of his sons, he bought the Blue Creek Shop in 1973, where he did diesel truck repairs, auto and truck painting, and built and sold Pend Oreille wood stoves. Several of the Lake Coeur d’Alene cruise boats were also built in his shop by his son, Fred Finney.
Bill was a dedicated husband and father, and was extremely proud of his family, who brought him his greatest happiness. He was a man of character, and made it a priority to instill values and character into his children and grandchildren by modeling hard work, honesty, integrity, generosity, morals and family values. Bill was a man of many interests and talents, who always wanted to be working on a project, and loved thinking of ways to give to others or help wherever needed.
Bill’s favorite place to spend time was at the family lake cabin, which he built on Lake Coeur d’Alene in the 1950’s. “The cabin” is a wonderful gathering place where the ever-growing Finney family continues to recreate and make special memories, as they have for more than 60 years. His legacy will live on in his family.
Bill was preceded in death by infant daughter, Shirley Ann Finney in 1964, his wife of 65 years, Mildred Finney in 2013, and son, Jack A. Finney in 2013. He is survived by nine of his children and their spouses, 33 grandchildren, and 31 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother, Lawrence Finney, who is the last surviving sibling of the 12 original Finney’s from that clan – a family with a long and rich history in Coeur d’Alene beginning in the early 1900’s.
A memorial service for Bill will be held at Coeur d’Alene Bible Church on Friday, February 19, 2016 at 2:00 pm, with a dessert reception following. The church is located at 5350 N. 4th Street, Coeur d’Alene. All are invited.