Milestone Announcements

100th Birthday

Bill Sage

On St. Patrick's Day, Bill Sage marked his 100th birthday surrounded by friends and family.  

In a one-room cabin in Naples, Idaho, on March 17, 1926, a century-long story of Idaho resilience began.

Bill’s story is the quintessential Idaho epic. Raised by a widowed mother alongside five siblings, Bill learned the meaning of "work" before most children finish elementary school. At just 10 years old, he began working in a local sawmill to help support his family. 

When the world went to war, Bill joined the Merchant Marines, serving his country during World War II, carrying munitions in the Pacific. Upon returning to the states, he enrolled at the University of Idaho and graduated with a degree in accounting.

For the next six decades, Bill became a fixture of the North Idaho professional community: established successful accounting firms in both Sandpoint and Coeur d’Alene and served as a trusted financial adviser well into his 80s.

While his professional achievements are vast, Bill’s personal life is defined by a deep capacity for devotion. Though he faced the heartbreak of being widowed twice, his heart remained open. In 2009, he found love again with his wife, Jean (Clark) Sage. Together, they remain a vibrant presence in the lives of their extended families.

To those who know him, Bill isn't just a centenarian; he is a living library of Idaho history. From the Great Depression to the digital age, he has remained in his home state. 

"He is a celebrated part of our family," his loved ones share. "And truly a treasure in our lives."

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Submit your milestones to [email protected] or in person at the Coeur d’Alene Press, 215 Second St., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814.

Listings include:

• Wedding anniversaries for couples married 25 years and every fifth year thereafter (2 photos accepted)

• Engagement announcements (1 photo accepted)

• Wedding announcements (1 photo accepted)

• Births (1 photo accepted)

• Milestone birthdays at age 70 and every fifth year thereafter or every year after age 90 (1 photo accepted)

• Generations (1 photo accepted)

• Higher education graduates (1 photo accepted)

• Military announcements (1 photo accepted)

Deadline is 3 p.m. Tuesdays.