Michael C. "Mike" Telford, 61, lifetime resident of St. Maries, died Feb. 26, 2011, at his home following a courageous battle with brain cancer. He was born Oct. 13, 1949, to Roland and Doris (Hanson) Telford in Spokane, Wash.

Mike attended grade school in Fernwood. He moved with his family to St. Maries in 1956. He graduated from St. Maries High School with the class of 1967. He then enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves and was stationed at Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo. He served in the reserves for six years.

He married Marcie Schueller on Aug. 3, 1968, in St. Maries. He was working for the St. Maries River Railroad and attended Lewis & Clark State College in Lewiston. He went to work for the St. Maries Complex of Potlatch in 1970. He worked his way up from sweeping floors to superintendent of the lumber mill, superintendent of the log yard and superintendent of the Plywood Mill. He worked at Potlatch for 28 years before going to work for Stimpson Lumber Co. He was plant manager for Stimson DeArmand Mill before closing the mill and taking the position of plant manager of Stimpson Mill in St. Maries.

His illness forced his early retirement. Mike enjoyed cooking, camping, hunting and fishing. He especially enjoyed taking vacations with his family and took pride in the appearance of his yard and the work he did to keep it up.

He was a member of the St. Maries Comm. Presbyterian Church. A 41-year member of the St. Maries Elks Lodge. He was a former St. Maries School District Board member, a former board member of the St. Maries Chamber of Commerce and a board member for the Coeur d'Alene Tribe's Coeur d'Alene Lake Resource Committee.

He is survived by his wife, Marcie at the family home; sons and daughters-in-law Rick and Cris Telford, and Rusty and Amy Telford, all of St. Maries; his mother-in-law, Mona Schueller of St. Maries; his brother, Jerry Issler of Culdesac; sister and husband Mary and Murl Sines of St. Maries; and stepsister Charlene Telford Degenstein of Spokane. Also surviving are six grandchildren and 115 nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, stepfather Sam Issler and brothers Sammy Issler and William Telford.

A celebration of his life will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, March 4, 2011, at the St. Maries Nazarene Church, 175 Grandview Drive, St. Maries, with Rev. Gary Foster officiating. A gathering of family and friends will follow the services at the St. Maries Elks Lodge.

The family suggests memorials to either Hospice of Benewah Co., 702 College Ave., St. Maries, ID 83861 or Hospice of North Idaho, 9493 N. Government Way, Hayden, ID 83835.

Visit Mike's online memorial and sign his guest book at www.hodgefuneralhome.com.