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Verland Leo Hunt, 90

Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017, at 1:15 p.m., Verland Leo Hunt opened his eyes one last time before passing into the arms of his Heavenly Father. His passing was witnessed by his daughters, Eileen Woelk and Lorena Freund, who were by his side.

Verland was born to Ruth and Sam Hunt in Moscow, Idaho, on Nov. 18, 1926. He grew up in that area, going to school in a one-room schoolhouse. He was pulled out of high school to be drafted into the U.S. Army toward the end of World War II. Stationed in Hawaii, he was a driver for officers. The one dream he was never able to accomplish was to return to Hawaii on vacation.

After the war, he returned home and married Mary Kovach, from Minnesota. Together they moved their family to Deer Park, Wash., where he worked in the local sawmill. He eventually progressed into logging, starting out as a sawyer. He was one of the first to own and use a one-man chain saw. Since most of his work was in the Priest Lake area, he moved his family to Sandpoint, Idaho, in 1955. Over the years, he worked for many different logging companies, often as a “gypo” logger. He is best known for often partnering with his best friend and brother-in-law, another “gypo” logger, Harold Ginter. Old timers knew who you were talking about when you mentioned Ginter and Hunt. They were known for their honesty, integrity and hard work.

In the 1970s, his logging operation consisted of him and his two sons, Ron and Alvin. Later he started building log houses with his son-in-law, Karl Woelk. Many of the log houses and buildings in Bonner and Kootenai counties are the ones they built.

In the 1980s, Verland took his wife and Karl and his family to Alaska to build a few log houses. Alaska was always a dream of his, where the hunting and fishing stories were enticing. It ended up being over a decade stay. He went from building to remodeling homes up and down the coast. He eventually returned to logging, working for a “float” company called Larry Craik logging. The whole logging camp is floated, as they log the islands. He also maintained the camp, as well as being a driver of the giant log trucks.

At the age of 74, he retired and returned to Sandpoint. He lived there until his second wife died. He was often hired by the owners of the log houses he had built, to add on or remodel them. Always wanting to keep busy (work was his hobby), he added on and remodeled his own house in Sandpoint, eventually buying the house next door and remodeling it too.

His final years were spent in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, under his daughter Lorena’s care. He was proud to have been a charter member in creating new Branch Seventh-day Adventist churches. One was in Deer Park, the other in Clark Fork, Idaho. He outlived most of his friends and acquaintances.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ruth and Sam Hunt; brothers Orly and Byron; half-brothers Harold and Jerry; sisters Darleen (baby), Lila Way and half-sisters Gerty and Ruby; his First wife, Mary (Kovach); his second wife, Ester (Kline); his best friends, brother and sister-in-law, Harold and Annie Ginter; and granddaughter Molly Fruend (Child).

Surviving are his two brothers-in-law, Alex and Tom Kovach; his children, Ron (Melody) Hunt and grandchildren Brooks and Heather; Lorena (Dennis) Fruend and grandchildren Tim and Jeni; Eileen (Karl) Woelk and grandchildren Andy, Adam, Ted and Mindy; Alvin (Barbie) Hunt and grandchildren Levi, Tyler and Desi; five great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter.

“Dad … you had a great run and we will miss you,” your children …

Memorial services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27, 2017, at the Seventh-day Adventist Church Fellowship Hall in Coeur d’Alene.

Family and friends are invited to sign Verland’s online guest book at coffeltfuneral.com. Arrangements are under the care of Coffelt Funeral Service.