Wesley Andrew Krueger, 76

Wesley A. Krueger passed away April 9, 2024, five days before his 77th birthday.  Wes left this world due to complications of heart disease with his wife and family around him.

Wes was born in Harvey, N.D., to Roland and Hedwig “Hattie” Krueger and lived and worked on the family farm in Drake, N.D. He attended Drake High School, where he played football and basketball. After High School, Wes attended Minot State University until 1966, when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy to serve his country. During his deployment, he served aboard the USS Kitty Hawk off the coast of Vietnam.  

After an honorable discharge from the Navy in 1970, he returned to North Dakota with his wife, Lynella (Lynn). This marriage produced his cherished daughter, Tiffany Ann. Wes returned to Minot State to complete his degree in Law Enforcement while working for the Minot Police Department. 

Upon graduation in 1977, Wes moved his family to Coeur d’Alene, where he worked as a Deputy for the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office for 28 years until his retirement May 16, 2005. 

After divorcing Lynn, he met and married Judy (Novak, Martin) Wargi. The five children that came with this marriage immediately became “his kids.” Wes loved them all wholeheartedly, particularly when they started producing grandchildren and now great-grandchildren. Judy passed away June 5, 2017.  

Shortly after his retirement, Wes took a job in security for the Silver Lake Mall and accepted the position of Director of Security for the Spokane Valley Mall. After his second retirement, Wes got to work on his hobbies of fishing and hunting. He often talked about the adventures in the woods and on the lakes. Most of these times, his kids, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, and his best friend Mark were involved.

In September 2021, Wes married Kathy Goettsch, a longtime friend from Minneapolis. They had a wonderful four and a half years together traveling around this country, including Yellowstone, Oregon Coast, an Alaskan cruise and fishing on Lake Superior. He will be greatly missed by family and friends.

Wes was a life member of the American Legion in his hometown of North Dakota, where his dad was also a life member. He had recently joined the CDA Chapter.

Wes is preceded in death by his parents, Roland and Hattie Krueger, his brother, Merrill Krueger of North Dakota, and his late wife, Judy, and a granddaughter, KC Martin, of Post Falls, Idaho.

He is survived by his wife, Kathy, sister Darlene (Joe) Star of Hanover, Pa., daughter Tiffany Krueger of Littleton, Colo.; Rick and Perry Martin of Cd'A; Randy and Sheila Martin of Clarkston, Wash.; Deborah Randolph of Boise, Idaho; Ron and Ronda Martin of Post Falls, Idaho; Robert and Kim Wargi of Post Falls, Idaho; 16 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; cousins; friends; and his beloved cat, Louise.  

A celebration of his life will be held Saturday, May 4, 2024, at the American Legion Post, 1138 E. Poleline Ave., Post Falls, Idaho. Services begin at 2 p.m., and a social gathering will occur afterward.  

Yates Funeral Home has been entrusted with the final arrangements. Please visit Wes’s online memorial at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com and sign his guestbook.