Harold John Dehlbom

Harold John Dehlbom (94) passed away Friday, May 28, 2010 at Boundary Community Hospitals Extended Care Facility in Bonners Ferry, where he spent the last years of his life. Graveside services will be held on Thursday, June 3, 2010 at 11:00am in the Moravia Cemetery, Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Harold was born in Copeland, Idaho to Julius & Grace Dehlbom on August 11, 1915. Harold was the middle sibling, having one older brother and sister and one younger brother and sister. Harold began his working years at the age of 10 or 11. Starting out with his dad, he cut and hauled post material for the K.V. Railroad and worked on the dykes in the Porthill and Copeland area of the Kootenai Valley. He and his dad also ran trap lines into the mountains, where they would have a cabin supplied for winter. They stayed from late fall; snow shoeing in and skiing out. As a young man, Harold worked as a trailblazer and manned lookouts in the north and east part of Boundary County for the Forest Service. In April of 1942, Harold joined the Army. He attained the rank of T5 (corporal) in the 4th Artillery Corps and served in the Italian Campaigns; Po Valley, Rome Arno, and North Appenines, where he received the Bronze Star Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal. Upon returning home from the war, Harold began working in the lumber and logging industries. It was at this point that he met Norma, his wife of 56 years. They had four daughters. Harold worked for the Bonners Ferry Lumber Co. and Ellersicks Mill for some years. He bought his home in the Moravia area in 1963 and worked for Pack River Lumber Co. in Colburn until retiring in 1978. Harold was preceded in death by his sister Elvera, brother – Ernest, wife – Norma Lamberson- Dehlbom, and daughter – Karen Dehlbom. Surviving are daughters – Dianna Watters of Troy, MT, Dorene Dehlbom of Moravia, and Mona Schauble of Naples. Brother Robert (Kathy) Dehlbom of WA, sister Lillian (Ben) Perry of WA, stepchildren – Terry and Bart Dinning, and numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, cousins, nieces, nephews, and his special friend Joni. Everyone who ever knew Harold knew him best for hard work, singing, and story telling. He loved his family life, children of all ages, gardening, animals, fishing, and hunting. He will be forever loved and missed by all and remembered through his stories. We love you Daddy (Grandpa)! Family and friends are invited to sign Harold’s book at www.bonnersferryfuneralhome.com Arrangement are entrusted to the care of Bonners Ferry Funeral Home.