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Michael Lee Jones, 69

Michael “Mike” Jones, of Post Falls, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, July 14, 2019, at Kootenai Health medical center in Coeur d’Alene.

Mike was born on May 26, 1950, in Idaho Falls, to Kenneth Paul Jones and Nora (Crook) Jones. His parents divorced in 1955 and Mike moved to Salmon, Idaho, with his mother, brothers and sisters. Mike attended grade school in Salmon and later in Tendoy, Idaho. His mother married Lawrence Hutchison in December of 1962, and the family moved from Tendoy to a ranch near Lemhi, Idaho, where Lawrence worked. Mike attended high school in Leadore, Idaho, graduating in 1968. While he was in high school he also worked on the ranch. He enjoyed the work, and after graduation, he continued to work as a ranch hand until he enlisted in the Army.

Mike served in the U.S. Army from August 1970 until August 1992. His 22 years of service took him to many duty stations to include: Fort Lewis, Wash.; Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.; Fort Carson, Colo.; Huron, S.D.; Fort Riley, Kan. and Hanau, Bamberg and Wildflecken Germany. Mike was also deployed for Desert Storm in January 1992.

Mike and Sheila Hutchings Noble were married on May 26, 1973, in Salmon. Together they had three children: Michael, Christopher and Megan. The family enjoyed the benefits of Mike’s duty assignments, especially the travels around Germany and Austria. During his service, he had the opportunity to work directly with the Germans on various construction projects as a dozer operator. Mike especially loved the German food and hospitality and enjoyed his three tours of duty to Germany.

During his service career he was assigned many jobs, but he most enjoyed his assignments to assist small German towns with projects as a heavy equipment operator, the time he spent as a legal clerk for the judge-advocate general’s office at Fort Carson, and his time in Huron, where he was attached to the National Guard Unit to assist with training.

Mike was very active in Cub and Boy Scouts in Huron, Wildflecken and Fort Riley, with his sons. After his Army retirement, Mike and his family moved to the Coeur d’Alene area, where he attended North Idaho College for HVAC training. After his training, Mike worked for Advanced Heating and Border Sheet Metal and Heating. He later worked for Honeywell, Raycap, Kootenai County and Esterline, officially retiring on May 31, 2018.

Mike loved the outdoors and enjoyed camping, fishing, hunting and 4-wheeling. Any day Mike could be in the woods was a good day. He also enjoyed wood-working, family barbecues and spending time around the backyard firepit. He was extremely proud of his children and grandchildren and we will all miss his funny antics and games with the grandkids.

Mike is survived by wife, Sheila; children, Michael (Theresa) Jones; Chris (Linda) Jones and Megan Jones; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Mike is also survived by his brother, Paul (Norene) Jones of Kellogg, Idaho; sister, Carolyn Jones Wingo of Hamilton, Mont.; brother, Frank Ray (Carrie) Jones of Novato Calif.; brother-in-law, John Tuomi of Mountain Home, Idaho and by several aunts and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. He is preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Shirley Jones Tuomi; step-brother, Larry Hutchison; numerous aunts, uncles and a niece.

Arrangements are under the direction of Bell Tower Funeral Home, in Post Falls. No services are planned at this time.