David O. Suhr, 90

With his wife of 68 years by his side, David O. Suhr passed away Jan. 10, 2024, at his home in Rathdrum, Idaho. Having recently moved to Rathdrum, David and his wife, Millie, previously lived in the Silver Valley (Osburn, Idaho) for over 50 years.

David was born Nov. 20, 1933, in Casco Township, Allegan County, Mich., to Jerome and Ethel (Larsen) Suhr. Populated with rural farms, local swimming holes and a one-room schoolhouse, Allegan County was an ideal playground for a young, spirited boy to grow up. At 10 years old, David started driving a tractor on his neighbor’s farm. Smiling, or rather, impishly grinning, David would often recall his early years antics.

At the end of World War II, David’s dad (at that time, Maj. Jerome Suhr) was stationed in Germany. Around 1946, David, with his mom and two brothers, temporarily moved to Heidelberg, Germany. Living there for about one year, he built his collection of military pins, flags and other military memories. He was also a member of the Boy Scouts during this time.

David attended high school in South Haven, Mich., (where he met Millie) during the late '40s and early '50s. In the era of denim jeans, poodle skirts and rock-and-roll, Dave and Millie would frequent the local skating rink. Both were a whiz on the rink but David, throwing in the occasional backflip, seemed a little more eager to impress. David and Millie graduated from high school in 1952.

After high school, David joined the Army. Temporarily saying goodbye to his new girlfriend, he started active service during the Korean War in 1953. After attending basic training in Fort Riley, Kan., and specialty training at Fort Devens, Mass., he was eventually transferred to Kenai, Alaska, (Wildwood Station) where he worked in Army security as a radio communications interceptor. It was a classified assignment. David received the National Defense Service Medal and was honorably discharged in 1955.

Recently out of the military, David and a couple of friends made their way back to the lower 48 states by driving south along the Alcan Highway. Riding three across the bench seat of their Chevy pickup, with gear similarly packed in the bed, they drove the roughly 1,387 miles from Delta Junction, Alaska, to Dawson Creek, British Columbia. Originally completed in 1942 as a military transport road, when David and his friends embarked on their trip in 1955, the Alcan Highway had only been open to the public for seven years. At that time, it was still gravel.

David started working his way back to Michigan after reaching Washington. On his way east, he drove through Northern Idaho … and fell in love with the area — vowing to come back. But he had a greater love back in Michigan — he and Millie were married in 1956. Ready to start civilian life, he first attended Western Michigan College (Kalamazoo) and then, after moving to Idaho with his wife, completed his bachelor of science in geology at the University of Idaho (1961). He went on to earn his master of science in geology in 1964. By this time, he and Millie added two sons (David, 1959 and Daniel, 1962) to their family.

Just out of college, David started working with Anaconda Mining Company in Butte, Mont. Then, in 1965, he was hired by ASARCO mining company in Wallace, Idaho, where he worked until retirement — first as a geologist and ending as a chief environmentalist. During his work years, David and Millie were blessed with another son (Michael, 1966) and a daughter (Kristen, 1971). In 1973, David was transferred to Leadville, Colo., (another mining town) and moved there with his family. Four years later, he was transferred again and they moved back to the Silver Valley (living in Osburn, Idaho). Once retired, he went to work for HECLA Mining Company, where he helped close non-working mine sites and eventually retired a second time.

David was very civic-minded. In addition to his military service, while in Colorado he served as president of the Silver King Ambulance Team and was deputized while volunteering on the Colorado Search and Rescue. In Idaho, he was a Wallace School District board member for several years and ran for Idaho State Senate twice in the 1980s. A huge part of David’s life was his work in the National Ski Patrol. He loved to ski and was active in the Ski Patrol for over 50 years (1973 to 2024). During this volunteer time, he skied with many family members and friends. Talking about skiing would always bring a smile to his face. Likewise, grandkids loved to go to the hill and ski with Grandpa. The yearly Spokane Bloomsday run was also an event that David enjoyed sharing with his family. 

David is survived by his immediate family: brother Martin; wife Mildred; sons and daughters David J., Daniel and Deanne, Michael and Kathryn, and Kristen and Heath Peterson; grandsons and granddaughters include: Jennifer and Jeff Zwick, Jason Suhr, Elizabeth Suhr and Ben Lane, Erik and Rachel Suhr, Jacob Suhr, Joshua and Kelly Suhr, Nathan and Tama Peery-Suhr, Kathryn Suhr and Zachary Jones, Mikaela and Cody Johnson, Matthew Suhr, Jordan Dean, Makenzie Dean, Mariah Peterson, Makayla Peterson, Ryan Peterson and Gavin Peterson; great-grandsons and great-granddaughters include: Jayden Zwick, Reese Zwick, Dominick Suhr, Chandler Suhr, Henry Suhr, Lexi Lewis, Kaisley Suhr, Lawson Suhr, Savannah Koski, Jonathan C. Suhr, Skylar Jones, Eden Johnson, Aspen Peterson, Taxyn Peterson, Ashton Peterson, Finn Peterson and Haislee Peterson.

David is preceded in death by his immediate family: brothers Jerome R. and Robert; son-in-law Robert Dean; and grandson Jonathan D. Suhr.

With many special times and fun memories to hold onto, Dear Friend, Great Grandpa, Grandpa, Uncle, Father-in-law, Dad, Brother and Husband … bye for now!

A memorial service will be held for David at 2 p.m., Saturday, March 9, 2024, at Yates Funeral Home — Hayden Chapel, 373 E. Hayden Ave., Hayden, ID 83835. A reception to follow. Please visit David’s online memorial and sign his guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.