Verland Leo Hunt

Saturday, October 21, at 1:15 p.m., Verland Leo Hunt, opened his eyes one last time before passing into the arms of his Heavenly Father. His passing was witnessed by his daughter Eileen and granddaughter Mindy Woelk, by his side.

Verland Leo Hunt was born to Ruth and Sam Hunt in Moscow, Idaho, on Nov. 18,1926. He grew up in that area, going to school in a one-room schoolhouse. He was pulled out of high school, to be drafted into the U.S. Army, toward the end of World War II. Stationed in Hawaii, he was a driver for officers. The one dream he never got to fulfill was to return to Hawaii on vacation.

After the war, he returned home and married Mary Kovach (from Minnesota). Together they moved their family to Deer Park, Wash., where he worked in the local sawmill. He eventually progressed into logging, starting out as a sawyer (also being one of the first to own and use a one-man chainsaw) Since most of his work was in the Priest Lake area, he moved his family to Sandpoint, Idaho, in 1955. Over the years, he worked for many different logging companiess, often as a “gypo” logger. He is best known for his often partnering with his best friend and brother-in-law, another “gypo” logger, Harold Ginter. Oldtimers knew who you were talking about, when you mentioned, Ginter and Hunt. They were known for their honesty, integrity,and hard work.

In the 1970s, his logging operation consisted of him and his two sons, Ron and Alvin. Later he started building log houses with his son-in-law, Karl Woelk. Many of the log houses and buildings in Bonner and Kootenai counties are the ones they built.

In the 1980s, Verland took his wife, and Karl and his family to Alaska, to build a few log houses. Alaska was always a dream of Verlands, where the hunting and fishing stories were enticing. It ended being over a decade stay. He went from building to remodeling homes up and down the coast., eventually he returned to logging, working for a “float” company, Larry Craik Logging. The whole logging camp is floated, as they log the islands. He also maintained the camp as well as being a driver of the giantlog trucks. At the age of 74, he retired, and returned to Sandpoint. He lived there until his second wife died. He was often hired by the owners of the log houses he had built, to add on or remodel them. Always wanting to keep busy (work was his hobby), he added on and remodeled his own house in Sandpoint, eventually buying the house next door, and remodeling it.

His final years were spent in Coeur d’Alene under his daughter Lorena’s care. He was proud to have been a charter memeber of creating new branch Seventh-day Adventist churches. One was in Deer Park, Wash., and the other in Clark Fork, Idaho. He outlived most of his friends, and acquaintances.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ruth and Sam Hunt; brothers, Orly and Byron; half-brothers, Harold, and Jerry; sisters, Darleen (baby) Lila Way; and half-sisters Gerty, and Ruby; his first wife, Mary (Kovach); his second wife, Ester (Kline); his best friends, brother, and sister-in-law, Harold and Annie Ginter; and a granddaughter, Molly Fruend (Child)

Surviving are his two brothers-in-law, Alex, and Tom Kovach; his children, Ron (Melody) Hunt; and grandchildren Brooks and Heather, Lorena (Dennis) Fruend, and grandchildren Tim and Jeni; Eileen (Karl) Woelk and grandchildren, Andy, Adam, Ted,and Mindy; Alvin (Barbie) Hunt, and grandchildren Levi, Tyler, and Desi; five great-grandchildren, and one great-great-granddaughter.

“Dad … you had a great run, and we will miss you,” your children.

Memorial services will be conducted at 1 p.m., Friday, Oct. 27, 2017, at the Seventh-day Adventist Church Fellowship hall in Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho.

Family and friends are invited to sign Verland’s online guest book at coffeltfuneral.com.

Arrangements are under the care of Coffelt Funeral Service of Sandpoint.