Ray Hinthorn, 86

Raymond Omer Hinthorn, 87, of Copeland, Idaho, died in his home on July 10, 2026, surrounded by his loving family. 

He was born in 1939 in Bloomington, Illinois, to Omer and Leta Hinthorn, one of 10 siblings with a rough-and-tumble upbringing, raised in Illinois farm country.

Ray graduated from Lexington High School in 1957 and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in February 1958, serving as a radar technician and air traffic controller in Morocco, Washington, and Montana before his discharge in June 1962. He later served as DAV Commander for Boundary County and briefly as State Commander, and was a longtime member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles.

Ray met his wife, Alice, in 1959 in Spokane, and they married in a double wedding on June 26, 1960. After working in banking in Tacoma and Spokane, the couple moved to Copeland in 1966 to take over the Krause family farm, where Ray raised wheat, barley, oats, and alfalfa, along with beef cattle and hogs. Ray continued farming until retiring in his 70s. Ray and Alice were married 63 years, a partnership they credited to compromise, communication, and lots of dancing.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Alice; and his siblings Barbara, Ramona, William, Roger, Robert, Dean, and Jack. He is survived by his brothers, Harry and Darrel; his children, Patrick (Teresa), Ronald (Sandra), and Heather; grandchildren Connor, Miriam, William (Ellie), Samuel (Grace), Meredith, Raymond (Tess), Gavin (Kirstina), Jessica, and Molly, and Matt (Lindsay) Foubert; and three great-grandchildren, Kara, Autumn, and Everett.

A memorial service will be held July 25, 2026, at 11 a.m. at Bonners Ferry Funeral Home, followed by a reception at the Fraternal Order of Eagles, 7159 2nd St, Bonners Ferry. Memorial donations may be made to the charity of one's choice in Ray's name.