Timothy A. Laws, 66

Timothy Allen Laws went to be with the Lord on Oct. 31, 2024, in Hayden, Idaho, after a five-year battle with cancer. He was 66. He was born to Larry, Sr., and Ann Laws on July 20, 1958, in Hot Springs, Mont., the second of their four children. The family was living in Trout Creek, Mont., and soon moved to the nearby town of Thompson Falls, where Larry worked in the timber industry.

Growing up in the 1960s and 1970s, Tim loved to tinker with bicycles (and later, automobiles, preferably Chevrolets.) He excelled in sports. Tim graduated with the Thompson Falls High School Class of 1977, where he was a key member of two state championship football teams. In school, Tim was a popular guy who was nice to everyone. In recent years, he had an opportunity to rekindle his hometown connections and fit right back in as if he’d never been away.

After high school, Tim married Marianne Gerstenberger, and they had two children, Austin and Whitney. Tim also became a second father to Teresa’s daughter, Kaylee. He was so proud of all three.

Tim worked 30 years at ACI Northwest, Inc., in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. As a hard-working, respected team member, he moved up from operator to shop foreman to heavy equipment manager. It certainly helped that since he was a kid, he had learned to operate about anything with wheels and/or tracks.

In late 2010, he began dating Teresa Hatch, and they proved to be a great match, marrying in 2019. Together, they loved to boat and fish, ride side-by-sides and snowmobiles, camp at Twin Lakes and have fun with their many friends. Tim was all about grilling food and having fun. His smile and infectious laugh were loved by all.

Christmas arrived only a few weeks into their developing relationship, and Tim told Teresa he had a special gift. After gifting her jewelry and other nice things, Tim presented the big one: a package of purple Senkos plastic bait for bass fishing. That next April, during fishing season, Teresa recalled she was not having much luck while Tim was on the boat’s bow pulling in bass every other cast. When she sees what Tim is using, it turns out it’s the Senkos bait. “He was slaying them on my Christmas present, and there was only one left,” Teresa recalls.

Tim’s battle with cancer began in 2019. He fought hard with many ups and downs. He confronted draining treatments and painful surgeries, always maintaining hope and humor. Hashtag-KFG.

“I often told Tim he was the strongest person I have ever known,” says his sister, Lori. “He faced things most of us will never have to, with more courage, optimism and strength than seemed humanly possible, but that was my brother, bigger than life.

“He had the best sense of humor! Just being around Tim made you feel better. He always had a joke, making you laugh and see the brighter side of things. His laughter (and sarcasm) was contagious! It was impossible to be in a bad mood when you were around Tim, impossible not to laugh until your stomach hurt, impossible not to just feel good.

“Most of us would have to live a thousand lives to come close to living as full of a life as Tim did,” Lori says. “We all need to take a page out of Tim’s book. Keep our chins up, stay positive, love our people and never take life so seriously that you can’t find something that will bring joy and laughter into your day. It’s been said God only takes the best; in this case, He took the best of the best.”

Tim is survived by his wife, Teresa; son Austin (partner Larissa) Laws; daughters Whitney (partner Josh) Laws and Kaylee Hatch; brother Larry (Becky) Laws and sister Lori (Steve) Gerstenberger and special in-laws, nieces, nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews and beloved Aussies, Bailey and Baxter. He was predeceased by his mother, father and younger brother, Ron (1972).

Tim now has fishing partners in Heaven with family and friends who crossed before. His ashes will be spread at his favorite fishing holes and mountain getaway spots in summer and winter.

A celebration of life is set at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20 at the Jacklin Building at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds, 4056 N. Government Way, Coeur d'Alene. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Tim’s name to Hospice of North Idaho, 2290 W. Prairie Ave., Hayden, Idaho.

Please visit Tim's memorial and sign his online guestbook at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.