Norman Edward Meyer, 96

It is with great sorrow that we announce the peaceful passing of our father, Norman Edward Meyer, on June 15, 2024. Dad leaves behind a legacy of a non-assuming life filled with love and dedication to his family. Norman was born March 2, 1928, to Otto and Elizabeth Meyer in their farmhouse on Rathdrum Prairie. He joined his sister, Irene, and later, they were joined by his younger sister, Virginia. He would ultimately spend the majority of his life in that home.

Dad’s grandfather, father and uncles settled on Rathdrum Prairie shortly after the turn of the century. Meyer Road is named for our family. The Meyer family farmed together until 1965. They then sold the land together and Dad purchased a portion of it, traded his home in Dalton Gardens with his parents and moved back into the house where he was born. Dad worked on the farm well into his 90s. Dad attended Rathdrum schools, where he excelled in sports. Dad would often drive the school bus to events and occasionally drive the afternoon bus route, leaving the bus at the farm so he could pick up students the next morning. He was also a member of the band, played the trumpet, and taught himself the guitar. His guitar-playing and beautiful voice would entertain friends and family for the rest of his life. 

Dad graduated from Rathdrum High School in 1946 and started work at Kaiser Aluminum while continuing to work on his first love (the farm). He retired in 1982, having only missed nine days of work in 36 years. All his vacations were scheduled during spring planting or fall harvest. He rose each morning at 4:30, did farm work until 6 a.m., then went to work at Kaiser from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., came home and did farm work until suppertime. He made time each fall after harvest to go elk hunting with his father, uncles and brothers-in-law in the rugged country south of Elk City, Idaho. He was a 78-year member of the Eagles Lodge and the Rathdrum Lions Club. For many years, Dad was a volunteer with the "chain gang" along the sidelines at Lakeland High School football games. He also took loving care of the many abandoned cats left at his landmark red barn on the farm on Highway 41 south of Rathdrum. Dad was always the pure essence of hard work and dedication. 

In 1948, Dad married Lorraine Bain. They were blessed with their first child, Debbie, in 1951 and their son, Michael, in 1952. Dad and Lorraine’s marriage later ended in divorce. 

In 1957, Dad met Doris Bumpus Robinson at Kaiser. Doris was a divorced mother of three young children and had just graduated from Kinman Business University. She was one of the first women to be hired at Kaiser. Norman and Doris were married on Valentine’s Day 1958. They would remain married for 63 years until Doris’ passing in 2021. He immediately adopted her children, Norman (Corky), 12, Marilyn, 11, and Dale, 9. Dad always joked that he got three kids free and never had to do or pay anything for them. Little did he know. Then, in 1959, Norman and Doris were blessed with the baby of the family, Doreen, also known as the spoiled one. Loved and spoiled by all of us. 

Upon Dad’s retirement in 1982, Doris assumed that finally they could do some extra traveling in their motorhome; but she was mistaken. The day after his retirement, she watched Dad and his longtime friend, neighbor, and fellow farmer, George Thayer, having a discussion in the barnyard. They shook hands and she knew. Sure enough, he came into the house and announced he was going to lease the farm to George and go to work for him. For the next 15 years, Dad farmed his own land, working for Thayer and sharing the profits. Dad and Doris did at least get to spend 30 winters south in the motorhome. 

Around the mid-'90s, Dad decided to start selling some of the farm. Some of it would ultimately become the Radiant Lake development, some Golden Spike development, and some a housing development west of the Rathdrum Grange Hall, which the family had built years before. He quit the claim, deeded some land to each of his six children, and retained the original farmhouse on about 30 acres. Norman and Doris remained at the farm until Doris’s passing in 2021. Toward the end of 2022, Dad moved out of the farmhouse he had known for 95 years and into his daughter Marilyn’s home. She and her husband John’s home is part of the original farm. Dad could see the farmhouse from Marilyn’s but would never go back. What a great gift our father, a true Idaho native, was to his whole family. 

Norman was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters, Irene Harms and Virginia Heid; his first wife, Lorraine (Debbie and Mike’s mom); and his second wife, Doris (Corky, Marilyn, Dale and Doreen’s mom). Dad’s son, Michael, our wonderful brother, also passed away in 2020. Norman is survived by five of his children and Michael’s widow: Norman (Corky), Judy; Marilyn Fisher, John; Dale, Kathy Carlisle; Debbie Vanslate, Joseph Putich; daughter-in-law, Diana Meyer; and Doreen Thomas, Roger. Dad is also survived by his nine grandchildren: Allison Meyer; Tanya Faley, John; David Fisher, Kea; Jason Meyer; Scott Vanslate, Brooke; Ron Meyer; Ric Meyer, Jodi; Joshua Welden; and Lucas Welden, Natalie. He also leaves 15 great-grandchildren and 13 great, great-grandchildren. 

Finally, we all want to express our sincere gratitude to Marilyn Fisher, Dad’s daughter, a retired Army nurse, and her husband, John, a Vietnam combat corpsman, whose loving dedication to Dad’s care never wavered. Marilyn and John’s sacrifices to ensure Dad was so comfortable and cared for will never be forgotten. 

There is no public funeral service planned. The family will hold a private graveside service for Norman and Doris. Yates Funeral Home, Coeur d’Alene, is in charge of arrangements. Please visit their website, www.yatesfuneralhomes.com. May we suggest donations in Norman’s name be made to Hospice of North Idaho www.hospiceofnorthidaho.org or the Companions Animal Center, formerly the Kootenai Humane Society www.companionsanimalcenter.org.

    Meyer