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Bruce Roger Darrington, 69

Bruce Roger Darrington, 69, passed away on Friday, May 24, 2019, at the Schneidmiller Hospice House, in Coeur d’Alene.

Bruce was born Sept. 20, 1949, in Placerville, Calif., to Harry and Carol Darrington. He was born and raised in Placerville, and he graduated high school in 1967, where he excelled at wrestling. Bruce’s mother was remarried to Lee Pierce, and the family moved to North Idaho after he graduated. In 1968 they bought the High Meadow Ranch out near Edgemere, Idaho.

Bruce attended North Idaho College and graduated in 1969. He worked at the Hayden Lake Country Club during college, where he started as a groundskeeper and worked his way up to assistant manager. That year, he married Bethaney Brown of Spirit Lake, Idaho. They lived in Moscow while he attended the University of Idaho. He earned his bachelor of arts in business in 1971, and enrolled in the U of I Business Law School.

Bruce was drafted by the Selective Service and was later released for medical reasons. He worked at the Cedars Inn, in downtown Lewiston, Idaho, as a bartender and assistant manager, later moving up to manager. He and Bethaney divorced in 1982. Bruce then moved to Spokane and started a contracting business.

During the summer of 1988, both of his boys comically worked with him, through many smashed thumbs, blisters and blaring contractor Rock ’n’ Roll. He and son, Adam, broke off on their own from 1991 to 1997 and lived together in Newman Lake, Wash.

Bruce settled back on the High Meadow Ranch. He enjoyed having friends around. He had a great memory and enjoyed reminiscing about the past. He kept his TV on 24/7 to help keep up on current topics. His sense of humor kept everyone laughing, especially himself. He enjoyed golfing, waterskiing and snow skiing. In his younger years, he was an active hunter and fisherman, but he later turned the ranch into more of an animal sanctuary for all the geese, ducks, deer and anything else that showed up. He especially loved his pet wild peacock and momma cat.

He is survived by his two sons: Adrian (and Karen) Darrington of Spokane Valley and Adam (and Sheila) Darrington of Rathdrum; six grandchildren; a sister, Gayle Blood, of Hayden; a brother, Gary (and Ann) Darrington of Spirit Lake; a sister, Lora (and Tom) Ross of Deer Lake; nephews Brian (and Michelle) Darrington, Anthony (and Crystal) Madrid, Clint Blood and Chad (and Rene) Blood; and other cousins and relatives.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother-in-law, Dallas Blood.

Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint is handling the arrangements. Please visit Bruce’s online memorial at www.lakeviewfuneral.com and sign his guestbook.