Dennis H. Desmarais, 77
Bonner County Daily Bee | UPDATED 1 month, 2 weeks AGO
Dennis passed away peacefully Oct. 11, 2025, at Kootenai Medical Center in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.
He was born Dec. 16, 1947, in Yakima, Wash., to Jerome and Elizabeth (Bouchey) Desmarais. He graduated in 1967 at Sunnyside High School in Sunnyside, Wash.
Dennis enlisted in the United States Navy in 1968 and served as a Navy Seabee at Danang Harbor Vietnam as a truck master. His unit trucked supplies from Danang Harbor to other units in the Jungle. After his time in the service, he spent time as a meat cutter and worked with his dad on the hop ranch in Outlook, Wash. He was working for Cenex in Grandview, Washington, when he met and married his wife, Linda (Sowers) Desmarais on Sept. 21, 1973.
After their marriage, they moved to Sandpoint, Idaho, where Dennis worked as a shipping clerk for the Cenex store there, known as The Co-op Gas & Supply.
In 1976, they moved to Connell, Wash., to start Desmarais Brothers Excavation with his older brother, Gary Desmarais.
Their daughter, Lisa was born in Richland, Wash., in 1977 during their time there. In 1978, they moved back to Sandpoint where Dennis returned to work at The Co-op Gas & Supply, retiring in 2019 as store manager.
Dennis enjoyed fishing, water skiing and boating on Lake Pend Oreille, as well as hunting and bowling.
Dennis is survived by his wife of 52 years, Linda of Sagle, Idaho; his daughter, Lisa Dye of Sandpoint, Idaho; grandsons, Christian of Eugene, Ore., and Codi of Sagle, Idaho; granddaughters, Alexis of San Diego, Calif., and Annalyn and Kyleigh of Sandpoint, Idaho; two great-grandchildren, Amyra Dye and Quinton Thorne; his brothers Gary of Connell, Wash., Donald of Mabton, Wash., Tim of Naches, Wash., and Tom of Connell, Wash.; his sisters, Sharon Marriotti of Tacoma, Wash., and Cindy Ross-Heydt of Florida; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Debra Beazley; and a brother, Kerry Desmarais.
Dennis's memorial service will be held at Kootenai Community Church in Kootenai, Idaho, at 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
His graveside service will be held at Lower Valley Memorial Gardens in Sunnyside, Wash., on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, at 11 a.m.