April 4, 1930 - Nov. 5, 2010

Sammy Ross Jr., loving son, husband, father and grandfather died Friday, Nov. 5, 2010, at Valley Vista Care Center in Sandpoint, after a long battle with Alzheimer's. He was 80.

He was born April 4, 1930, in Broadwater, Neb., to Sam and Francis (Loomis) Ross. He married Hazel Creason on Nov. 18, 1949, in Broadwater. They had five children, Richard (Bev) Ross of Gering, Neb., Donald (Doneen) Ross of Sturgis, S.D., Lora (David) Foreman of Spokane, Wash., and S. Allen Ross of Coeur d'Alene.

He was preceded in death by son Jimmy (Donna) Ross of Crawford, Neb. He has 11 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Sammy worked for the Nebraska highway department for 18 years then moved on to work for the University of Riverside, Calif., for 20 years where he retired and moved to Coeur d'Alene.

He is survived by his sisters, Betsy Douma and Irene Ross of Broadwater, and brothers Leon Ross of Arizona and Phillip Ross of Lisco, Neb. He was preceded in death by parents and sister, Carolyn Santaro of Gering; brothers Paul of Richland, Wash., George of Portland, Ore., Arnold of Kansas City, Mo., and Jack of Salem, Mo.