Allen Jacob Jeppesen

The world has lost a beloved father and dear friend. Allen Jacob Jeppesen left his earthly body just ten days after his 82nd birthday on May 30, 2021, in Spokane, Washington. Funeral services will be at 11:00 am Monday, June 14, 2021, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Interment will follow at the McArthur Lake Cemetery in Naples, Idaho. Allen was born May 20, 1939, to George Hansen Jeppesen and Georgia Holton Jeppesen in Sandpoint, Idaho. The youngest of four, he spent his childhood on the family farm in Highland Flats. Some of his best stories were of his childhood. His home was full of love and laughter and family meant the world to him. He attended grade school at Naples Elementary and graduated from Bonners Ferry High School in 1957. While there he lettered in boxing and was active in the FFA. He enjoyed dancing, loved playing the guitar, and frequently gallivanted with best friends Tom Mahler and Marvin Cook. After high school, Allen worked for Browns Mill in Highland Flats and as a logger. He also spent time playing music at local bars and at family gatherings. He always said he couldn’t sing, but he could “play his guitar for ya.” Music was one of his greatest loves. He was drafted into the United States Army in 1961, where he served two years active duty with Company C 92nd Engineering Battalion stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina as a Construction Equipment Mechanic, then two years as a Reservist. He was honorably discharged in 1967 after completing his inactive guard duty. After leaving active duty, Allen returned to North Idaho, where he began a 40-year career in the woods. He worked for a couple of different small logging companies before going to work for Sage and McCalmont Logging. He married Julie Sage on July 1, 1967, and they had two children together: Corey in 1968 and Cynthia (Cyndi) in 1971. Allen shared his love of fishing with everyone, especially his son Corey who enjoyed many memorable fishing trips with his father. Julie and Allen divorced in 1980. The following year Allen married Pilar Laboto, who had two children with him: Anthony (Tony) in 1983 and Nicole (Nicci) in 1985. Pilar and Allen divorced in 1990 but remained close friends. Allen left Sage and Mcalmont Logging in 1986. He bought an International Semi and a belly dump trailer and headed for Alaska with his brother Jay. He said that winter in Fairbanks was the coldest of his life. He passed many nights in the camper shell of his pickup in a sleeping bag rated to -70 degrees, a rating he declared “false advertising.” He later took his truck to Arizona, Montana, and Washington for various belly dump jobs before returning to Naples. Once “home” to Boundary County and the Selkirks, Allen returned to the woods he loved. He went to work for Waterloo and Eby, Jeppesen Logging, and later did some horse logging. He retired very briefly in 2002 but quickly went back to work that same year for Waterloo logging. A worksite accident forced his ultimate retirement in 2003, but Allen loved the woods and enjoyed logging, and if given the choice probably would have spent almost every day of his life in them. Allen loved to hunt and especially to fish small creeks and high mountain lakes. He truly enjoyed being in the mountains and the forest. He was a skilled horseman and owned horses more years of his life than he didn’t. His favorite activity of all was to pack into the backcountry and find the most remote lake or spot he could. In retirement, Allen loved spending time with his family and friends, especially his brother Terry and his granddaughter Autumn. He could be found most days tinkering in his garage on his latest project, fixing a tractor or a garage door, or building something with his hands. Allen was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers Terry and Jay Jeppesen. He is survived by his four children, Corey (Gayla) Jeppesen of Tualatin Oregon, Cynthia (Brian) Ranallo of Tallahassee Florida, Tony Jeppesen of Bonners Ferry Idaho, and Nicci (Mike Hanson) Jeppesen of Coeur d’Alene Idaho. He has seven grandchildren, Allison, Alex, Cassie, Caleb, Quentin, Elanor, Autumn, and Madelynn. His sister Mary Jo Styers lives in Mesa Arizona. His many nieces, nephews, and cousins are scattered throughout the nation.