William Charles (Bill) Fout

Feb. 21, 1923 – July 9, 2012

Bill Fout passed away July 9, 2012 at Beehive Homes in Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho. He was born February 21, 1923 on a farm in Andes, Mont. to Stanley and Gladys Fout. He grew up in Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho, and attended Winton Elementary School and Coeur d’ Alene High School where he excelled on the football team.

He married his high school sweetheart, Margaret Mary Swan in 1944. They were married for more than 60 years until her death in 2006.

Bill served in the in the Army Air Force where he flew as a spotter on search and rescue missions over China during World War II. After returning from the service, he and Margaret moved to Mullan, Idaho and later to Wallace, where they lived for 37 years.

Bill worked for more than 30 years for Washington Water Power (now called Avista) as a lineman.

He was a member of the Elks, the Masons, and later the Shriners. He was chairman of the local chapter of the American Red Cross, teaching first aid and CPR to high school students and hunter safety classes. He took up skiing with his children, becoming a member of the Ski Patrol, and a teacher in the Lookout Pass free ski school. He later became involved with the Idaho Ski Club, to help run the Lookout Pass Ski area. He managed the lodge one year and hill maintenance another.

After retirement, he and Margaret moved to their lake home on Lake Coeur d’ Alene. They remained active with both snow and water skiing and participated in local social groups. Bill became active with the Shiners (he loved to drive the go-carts in parades), and helping out the neighbors with construction, snow removal, or anything else that needed doing. Bill was always busy making something. He built the home they lived in, in Wallace and the lake home in which they retired. In fact he cut down the trees and hauled them to the saw mill for the lumber for the lake home. He loved working with his Bobcat, improving the access to his and his neighbor’s lake homes. Bill is survived by his daughter Linda Kieffer, son-in-law Chuck, Spokane Valley; son Randy Fout, daughter-in-law Mary, Lyons, Colo.; grandchildren Kris Knight and husband Bill; Konni Telford and husband Cordell; Katherine Fout, Kristopher Fout and Alex Fout; and great-grandchildren Lindsey Knight, Joseph Telford and Robert Telford. A memorial service will be held Saturday August 4, 2012 at 2 p.m. at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Coeur d’Alene. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Shriners Hospital, Box 2472, Spokane, WA 99210-2472. Please visit Bill’s on-line memorial at englishfuneralchapel.com.