Edwin Ernest (Butch) Palmer, 66

Edwin Ernest (Butch) Palmer (66) passed away unexpectedly at his Copeland area home on Dec. 20, 2006. Funeral Services will be held on Friday, Dec. 29, 2006 at 11 a.m. in the Bonners Ferry Funeral Home, Chapel with private internment in the Grandview Cemetery.

Butch was born on March 22, 1940 in Bonners Ferry, Idaho to Edwin L. and Rebecca C. (Fruck) Palmer. He attended schools in Boundary County graduating from Bonners Ferry High School in 1959. After his graduation he joined the U.S. Navy and served for four years returning to Bonners Ferry in 1963. Due to his fathers poor health Butch took over the farming operation on the C.W. King property in Districts 4 and 13. After the death of his father he cared for his mother devotedly until her death. Butch continued farming in the districts until his retirement.

Butch had an extended family in the area and would make his rounds to all the community coffee shops, businesses and homes in the winter months to catch-up on all the latest happenings. In many ways Butch was still a kid at heart. His first love was for his tractors and his old caterpillar D2 crawler he referred to as Mom's. Butch will be remembered as a kind and generous friend and neighbor. The hardest working farmer, a title that he inherited from his parents. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Throughout his life his love for farming and work but he also enjoyed his annual fishing trip up Parker Creek and discussing the problems of the world with friends and how to fix them.

He is survived by his sister, Myrna Ransier of Auburn, Wash., and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Richard Hershman and sister Louise Grunerud.