Joe E. Figgins, 78
Joe E. Figgins, 78, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009, after a hard fought battle with cancer.
Funeral services were held at Bonners Ferry Funeral Home with private interment in Grandview Cemetery.
Joe was a God fearing man who loved the United States of America.
He was born in Courtland, Kansas, on Jan. 6, 1931, to Maude and John Figgins during the Great Depression and Dust Bowl. Joe was the youngest of eight children.
All struggled to survive those hard times on their family farm. When Joe was 8, his father passed away, and his mother had to sell the farm to pay the bills. With only a picnic basket of food and $300 — a loan from a family friend — they boarded a train for Walla Walla, Wash., to join two of Joe’s older brothers, who were stationed there working for the WPA.
When World War II started, Joe's brothers joined the service; all three miraculously returned home when the war ended.
In 1949, Joe graduated form Walla Walla High School and was an All American halfback in football. He turned down a scholarship to play at Notre Dame and chose Washington State University.
During that time, Joe met his future bride, Lilly M. Smith, at his best friend’s wedding. Joe’s best friend was marrying Lilly’s sister.
Joe and Lilly married on Jan. 21, 1951. They moved to Bonners Ferry, where they farmed for Lilly's father, George W. Smith.
Farming was going well until the 1956 flood devastated most of the Kootenai Valley farms. Joe always said “that he was knee deep in debt every since.”
Tired of fighting high water and the threat of flooding in the valley, he bought a small hog farm in 1962 on the North Bench of Bonners Ferry. After many long hours and the help of several good men, it became an efficient operation producing more than 2,000 market hogs per year and was his pride and joy.
Joe was one of the first farmers to grow White Dutch clover seed in the valley. He grew alfalfa hay and was involved with the first introduction of hops into the county. After Libby Dam was built, he decided the Kootenai Valley was pretty darn good so he focused his attention there.
In 1996 his loving wife suffered a debilitating stroke, and Joe has spent his retirement years caring for her, and taking care of his lawn and his “volunteer petunia patch.”
One of Joe’s deepest regrets is that he did not get to say good-bye to his good friends Sid Neumeyer and Glenn Mastre before they passed away.
Joe did not always know how to show it, but he truly loved his family and friends. We will miss him very much.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents and siblings.
He is survived by his wife; children Joe (Carrie) Figgins, Peggy (Jerry) Dexter, John (Valerie) Figgins, Carol (David) Ehrmantrout and George (Julia) Figgins; 15 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
The family suggests memorials be sent to Bonner Community Hospice.
Family and friends may sign Joe’s book at www.bonnersferryfuneralhome.com.
Bonners Ferry Funeral Home handled arrangements.