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Howard Edward Kiefer, 89

Howard Edward Kiefer, 89, passed away Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, Wash. Howard was born on the Rathdrum Prairie, July 13, 1929, to parents William and Myrtle Kiefer, at the family farm. Shortly thereafter the family lost the farm in the Great Depression and moved into town and the house on Coeur d’Alene Street, where he was raised with his brothers and sister. He received his primary schooling in Rathdrum, Idaho, where at Rathdrum High School he played basketball and football.

He continued his education at Lewiston Normal and The University of Idaho, where he pitched for the baseball team, and then Eastern Washington University, where he earned his teaching degree in history and industrial arts. He also served in the United States Army and was stationed in Korea.

After getting his teaching degree, Howard taught at several high schools including Spirit Lake, Rathdrum, Colville and Brookings, where he coached football, baseball, basketball and track. He also taught at the newly formed Lakeland High School, where he was the first boys basketball coach for the fledgling school.

In 1958, Howard married his first wife, Barbara Thomason Auer and helped to raise her daughter, Janice. Howard and Barbara were married until her death in 1988 after her second battle with cancer.

After several years of teaching, Howard came back to his hometown of Rathdrum and owned several businesses, including the Mill Creek, the Hauser Resort and the Kiefer Cleveland car lot, not to mention buying, running and selling the Shady Rest several times. He also ran the Rainier Beer distributorship with his brother, Billy and served a term as the mayor of Rathdrum.

In 1992, Howard married Alberta, who was introduced to him by mutual friends, and they lived in the Rathdrum area until his death.

Howard was loved by everyone who knew him. He will be remembered for his caring heart, his kind eyes and his unfailing generosity. Along with his brothers, Howard had a strong bond with his family and stayed near his mother to help take care of her after his father died in 1957. Howard had a soft spot for animals, especially his dogs. He loved to come to town and visit with his friends every afternoon. This group was bestowed the name, the “Think Tank” by his brother-in-law, Kenny Hayes. The members of this dubious group, which also included his brothers and several other distinguished Rathdrum citizens, solved all of the problems of the world. Howard is preceded in death by his first wife, Barbara; his father, Frederick William “Bill” Kiefer; his mother, Myrtle Howell Kiefer; and his sister, Doris Lucille Hayes of Rathdrum. He is survived by his wife, Alberta of Rathdrum; his brothers, William Phillip Kiefer of Rathdrum, Robert Henry Kiefer of Chattaroy, Wash. and Terrance Allen Kiefer of Rathdrum; and many step-children; step-grandchildren; nieces; nephews and great-nieces and nephews.

A memorial will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, at the Catholic Parish Hall on McCartney Street in Rathdrum. It is a potluck, so please bring a dish of food and your memories of Howard to share.

Yates Funeral Home has been entrusted with the care of final arrangements.