Joseph Edward Figgins

Joe E. Figgins passed away peacefully in his sleep Oct. 29 after a hard fought battle with cancer. Funeral Services will be held on Monday, November 2, 2009 at 11:00 am at the Bonners Ferry Funeral Home, in Bonners Ferry, Idaho with private interment in the Grandview Cemetery. Joe was a God fearing man that loved the United States of America. Joe was born in Courtland, Kansas on Jan.6, 1931 to Maude and John Figgins, right in the middle of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. He was the youngest of eight children. All of them struggled together to survive those hard times on their family farm. When Joe was eight years old his father passed away and his mother had to sell the farm to pay the bills. With only a picnic basket of food and $300, a loan from a family friend, they boarded a train for Walla Walla, Washington to join two of his older brothers who were stationed there working for the WPA. When World War Two started all of Joe's brothers joined the service and all three of them miraculously returned home when the war ended. In 1949 he graduated form Walla Walla High School and was an All American halfback in football. He turned down a scholarship to play at Notre Dame and instead chose Washington State University. During that time he met his future bride, Lilly M. Smith, at his best friends wedding whom of which was marrying Lilly's sister. Joe and Lilly were married on Jan.21, 1951. They immediately moved to Bonners Ferry, Idaho where they farmed for Lilly's father, George W. Smith. Farming was going pretty well until the 1956 flood devastated most of the Kootenai Valley farms. Joe always said " that he was knee deep in debt every since!" Tired of fighting high water and the threat of flooding in the valley he decided the "high" ground was looking pretty good so in 1962 he bought a small hog farm on the North Bench of Bonner's. After many long hours and the help of several good men it became an efficient operation producing over 2,000 market hogs per year and was his pride and joy. Joe was one of the first farmers to grow White Dutch clover seed in the valley. He grew alfalfa hay and was involved with the first introduction of hops into the county. After Libby Dam was built he decided the Kootenai Valley was pretty darn good so he focused his attention there. In 1996 his loving wife, Lilly, suffered a debilating stroke and he has spent his retirement years caring for her and taking care of his lawn and his "volunteer petunia patch". One of his deepest regrets is that he did not get to say good bye to his good friends, Sid Neumeyer and Glenn Mastre before they passed away. Joe did not always know how to show it but he truly loved his family and friends. We will miss him very much. He was preceded in death by his parents and all of his brothers and sisters and is survived by his wife Lilly, children Joe (Carrie) Figgins, Peggy (Jerry) Dexter, John (Valerie) Figgins, Carol (David) Ehrmantrout, George (Julia) Figgins, 15 Grandchildren, and 3 Great Grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be sent to the Bonner Community Hospice. Family and friends are invited to sign Joe’s book at www.bonnersferryfuneralhome.com Arrangement are entrusted to the care of Bonners Ferry Funeral Home.