Chester David Broadsword, 81

Chester “Chet” Broadsword of Hayden, Idaho, went to his Heavenly Father on Nov. 29, 2020. He passed peacefully at his home. He was born at home to Margaret Anna (Gray) Broadsword and William Strout Broadsword, where he lived in Samuels, Idaho. He was very proud of being a North Idaho native. He grew up in Sandpoint and Coeur d’Alene. He attended Coeur d’Alene High School when it was on Seventh Street.

He joined the military in 1961 — Army of course. In fact, he was the eighth generation of Army strong. He was stationed in Karlsruhe, Germany, with the 55th Engineering of the 7th Army. It was the Berlin Crisis and the beginning of the Cold War era, and he was honorably discharged in 1964.

He married Marsha Brisson Kraft on Dec. 1, 1964. He worked at Bunker Hill in the zinc plant, then worked for Art and Dorothy Kraft, who were also his mother and father-in-law. They ran three family-owned gas stations all by the city park. It’s a parking lot now. He also drove a school bus part-time, then full-time, then became the mechanic and finally, head mechanic; in all, he worked for School District 271 for over 33 years until a disease took his eyesight.

For many years he was a friend of 4-H. He loved those kids. He was presented with an award for outstanding support of the Kootenai County 4-H program on Oct. 8, 1991.

Marsha and Chet have lived in the same house in Hayden, Idaho, for over half a century, where Marsha still resides. Hobbies he loved were woodworking, gardening and his “hobby farm.” At times it would have been easier to name the animals they didn’t have. When asked, Chet would say “Well, we don’t have a camel or an elephant.” He loved hunting and fishing and horseback riding.

There are people who like to read and there are people who have a passion for reading; Chet was the latter. It was the thing he missed the most when he lost most of his vision. Then the Veterans Administration brought him a closed-circuit reading enhancement machine. He loved it and in a short time, he read over 200 books, mostly Westerns. It was the best thing ever for him.

His battle with cancer was a long one. He never complained about anything except leaving his wife alone. The last six months he was in hospice care. He dearly loved his hospice nurses Jaelynn, Diana and Jennie. Over the months they built an amazing friendship. He loved to tease -- that was just Chet! Every time anyone of them would come, he would find something to tease them about. He so appreciated them and everything they did for him. He wanted to make sure they knew that.

Chet is survived by his wife, Marsha of 56 years; daughter and son-in-law, LeAnne “Annie” and Patrick Crowley of Rathdrum; daughter and son-in-law, Michelle “Mikki” and Mylan “Chip” Jacobson of Coeur d’Alene; son and daughter-in-law, William “Bubba” and Kimberly Broadsword of Post Falls; granddaughter, Kaitlyn “Kate” Crowley and fiancé, Kyle Altman; granddaughter, Alaina Crowley and fiancé, Thomas “T.J.” Grassl; granddaughter, Amanda “Mandy” Scott of Spirit Lake; grandson, Matthew “Matt” Scott of Garwood; granddaughter, Cydney Smith-Scott of Hayden; grandson and granddaughter-in-law, Michael “Mikey” and Allyson “Ally” Broadsword (U.S. Army) Italy; grandson, Conner Broadsword of Australia; granddaughter, Brydie Broadsword of Post Falls; granddaughter, Piper Broadsword of Post Falls; and grandson, Hamish Broadsword of Post Falls; five great-grandchildren: Bella, Tobish, Judah, Lilly and Riot; brothers, Dale Broadsword and Arthur Broadsword; and sister, Hazel “Sissy” Crowley of Sacramento, Calif. Chet is preceded in death by his father, William; his mother, Margaret; and his brothers Dalton Edward Broadsword, Charles “Chuck” Robert Broadsword, William Eugene “Gene” Broadsword and Douglas “Doug” Neal Broadsword.

No services are being held at this time. Yates Funeral Home is entrusted with final arrangements. Please visit Chet’s online memorial and sign his guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com