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Adrian E. Litalien |
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May 20, 1931 ~ July 30, 2015 |
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August 2, 2015 |
 Longtime
Boundary County resident Adrian Edward Litalien,
84, passed away July 30, 2015 at his home in
Bonners Ferry, Idaho surrounded by his loving
wife and family by his side.
A funeral service will be held at Mountain
Springs Church in Bonners Ferry, Idaho on
Monday, August 3 at 11:00 a.m. He will be laid
to rest at Grandview Cemetery following the
funeral service with rendition of military
honors by the United States Marine Corps and
Marine Corps League.
Adrian was born in Carrington, North Dakota on
May 20, 1931 to Frank and Alma Litalien. He
moved to Bonners Ferry with his parents and
seven siblings at age three. He was the seventh
child in a family of ten children. Frank and
Alma settled in the Curly Creek area upon
arriving in Bonners Ferry. The family of twelve
lived in a log house at Curly Creek where they
shared beds that lined all the walls of the
cabin. In the wintertime, Adrian recalled that
their blankets often froze to the walls.
Later in life the family moved and lived at the
base of Camp Nine and the children attended
McKinley School. Adrian missed the 5th grade
after allegedly becoming sick from eating green
apples. At ten years old, he was skidding logs
with his father and a team of horses. They
family also hand hewed railroad ties to make a
living.
The family later moved to town and Adrian
attended the 7th and 8th grade at Southside
School. To his great disappointment, Mable Cash
was once again his teacher, as she followed him
from McKinley School.
During his high school years, the family moved
to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho where he attended and
graduated from St. Thomas Catholic High School
in 1950. Upon graduating at age 17, he followed
his sister, Janie and family, to Shelton,
Washington where they worked for Simpson logging
company. His first job with the company was to
be on fire watch where they were skidding logs
over rocks. Luckily, no fires were ever started
on his watch. When he came of age, he was able
to work the high lead at Simpson and also worked
for the railroad putting in ties when it rained.
Before he could be drafted, Adrian chose to
enlist in the Marines during the Korean War. He
served from April 1952 to March 1954 and was
stationed in Japan. Upon discharge from the
Marines, he returned to Bonners Ferry and lived
with his sister Rita who got him a job working
for Clay Trouse farming in District 10.
In 1955, his brother in law, John Foust, got him
a job with the Pack River Lumber Company. He
worked there for 10 years until they ended their
Gypo logging. He then went to work as a Gypo for
Koyle Hatfield where he logged with Lowell
Anderson and Dean Zimmerman, his childhood
friend. They helped build many of the roads in
Boundary County. Adrian truly loved logging,
especially road building. He took great pride in
perfecting the road and was revered by his
friends Dean, Lowell, John, Buster Pluid and the
Plato brothers, Leland and Gail. During his time
logging, Adrian and Lowell worked together
building fire line on the Sundance Fire. They
nearly became trapped on one occasion but due to
their skills as cat operators, they were able to
escape by sliding down the rocks.
Following two back injuries while logging,
Adrian was forced into disability and retirement
in 1977. Although his heart never left the
woods. He kept his love of logging alive by
sharing his wisdom and skills with his
son-in-law and grandson.
In March of 1955 Adrian met the love of his life
and partner of 57 years, Lois Tritt. They were
wed on September 7, 1957. During their marriage,
they were blessed with four wonderful children.
In 2007 Adrian and Lois celebrated their 50th
anniversary surrounded by their children,
grandchildren, great- grandchildren and friends.
Adrian is preceded in death by his parents Frank
and Alma Litalien, brothers Don, Ray and Robert,
who was killed in France during World War II at
age 18, sisters Rita Copeland (Tom), Evalyn
Holmes (Reed), Bea Evans (Eddie), Janie
Babinski(Walt), and Doris Henderson (Bob).
Adrian is survived by his wife Lois, daughters
Pamela Abeyta, Donna Merrifield (Lon), Marilyn
Thompson (Mike), son Michael (Cyndi), brother
Jerry (Phyllis), grandchildren Crystal Bliss,
Heidi Mendenhall, Amy Geischen, Kevin
Merrifield, Holly Scarborough, Ryan Merrifield,
Tiara Schreindl, Tasheena Smith, Trisha Piller,
Lance and Loren Abeyta, Kayla Osborne, Jacob,
Joe and Andrew Thompson, Matthew and Lindsey
Litalien, and 19 great- grandchildren.
Adrian had many passions in his life, which
included his faith and family. He enjoyed
fishing mountain streams and lakes, hunting,
camping, cutting fire wood, and pinochle. He
never bid without an Ace. He loved whooping the
younger guys in a game of horse shoes and he
could often be found schooling his family in all
of the above. Adrian will be dearly missed by
all and fondly remembered as Papa 2 by his
great- grandchildren. Our comfort is found in
knowing that he is home with his Heavenly
Father.
Memorials in Adrian's honor may be made to the
Friends of the Restorium in Bonners Ferry. |
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