Vernon Sylte, age 95 of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, died Dec. 29, 2015, at his home. He was born April 1, 1920, in Milan, Minn. to Theodore and Gina (Nelson) Sylte.

Vernon grew up in Milan and moved with his family to the Sylte Ranch in Rathdrum, Idaho, where he graduated from high school.

Vernon attended North Idaho Junior College, where he excelled on the 1938 college basketball team with his brother, Chet. He graduated from Lewiston Normal College with his teaching degree and began his teaching career at the Rimrock Country School.

Vernon was married to Alice Howell on Oct. 3, 1941, at Trinity Lutheran church in Coeur d’Alene and shortly thereafter enlisted in the U.S. Navy during WWII. After receiving his training at Farragut Naval Base he served as a medical corpsman in the Philippines. After the war, Vernon received his master’s degree from Eastern Washington University.

Vernon and Alice made their home in Rathdrum where he taught grade school, coached basketball and became principal of Rathdrum Elementary School. His teaching career spanned 28 years and during the summer months he and Alice built several homes in Rathdrum.

During his retirement years he and Alice enjoyed hunting, fishing, traveling to Hawaii, and spending winters in Yuma, Ariz. They moved to Coeur d’Alene in 1993. Vernon and Alice were married for 74 wonderful years spending their entire marriage doing everything together experiencing their love of the outdoors and their family and friends.

Vernon was preceded in death by his brothers, Jack, Orville, Al and Chet. He is survived by his wife, Alice; his son, Gary Sylte; his daughter, Linda Yates; grandchildren, Traci Sylte, Troy Sylte and Eli Yates; great grandchildren, Becca, Ava, Ashley, Reed, Tavin and Ella; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016, at the Yates Funeral Home, Hayden Chapel. The funeral service will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016, at the Yates Funeral Home, Hayden Chapel with a reception following at the Yates Hayden Chapel Gathering Center. Burial with military honors will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Pinegrove Cemetery in Rathdrum, Idaho. Please visit Vernon’s online memorial and sign his guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.