Frank Chapin, 84
Bonner County Daily Bee | UPDATED 2 weeks, 1 day AGO
Frank Lee Chapin, 84, passed away peacefully Thursday, May 21, 2026, in his home in Sagle, Idaho.
Frank was born to Nora May Henneman and Frank Forest Chapin on Aug. 23, 1941, in Sandpoint, Idaho; he was one of six siblings. He grew up in the HooDoo Valley area and went to school in Priest River, Idaho. He graduated in 1959 and went on to get his accounting degree from Kinman Business University in Spokane.
He met his first wife, Nancy Perry, and went on to have three boys: Dean, Darrell and Russell. He met his third wife, Sydney Gutierrez-Chapin, and gained a daughter, Wendy.
In his professional life, Frank was dedicated to his craft of accounting, working for 66 years, right up until his final days. Many would say Frank never worked a day in his life because of his passion for working with numbers and most importantly the relationships he built with all his tax clients. Many who knew Frank saw one of his greatest attributes was his charismatic but stubborn attitude that would guarantee no matter what the job; it would be done and always done right.
When not working, he greatly enjoyed a pastime of fishing from the waters of Alaska to the Columbia River, or closer to home's local lakes such as Priest Lake and Lake Pend Oreille.
Frank is survived by his wife, Sydney Gutierrez-Chapin; her daughter, Wendy Chapin; and grandson Riley Chapin; his three sons, Forrest "Dean" (Terri) Chapin, Darrell (Christell) Chapin and Russell Chapin; numerous nieces and nephews; and multiple grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Nora May Bews; his father, Frank Forest Chapin; his brothers, Earl Chapin, Mason Chapin, Carl Chapin; and his sister, Dorothy Monk.
No memorial service will be held in memory of Frank as per his and his family's wishes.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation at 5705 Grant Creek Road Missoula, MT 59808; The National Park Foundation at 1500 K Street NW Suite 700 Washington, DC 20005; or Bonner Community Hospice at 520 N. Third Ave. Sandpoint, ID 83864.
Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint is handling the arrangements. Please visit Frank’s online memorial at lakeviewfuneral.com and sign his guest book.