Arthur Louis Burnett

Arthur Louis “Art” Burnett, 95, passed away in Sandpoint, Idaho on Saturday, January 13, 2007. Friends may call, to pay their respects, on Thursday, January 18, 2007 from 2:00 PM until 6:00PM at Coffelt Funeral Service, 109 N. Division Ave. in Sandpoint, Idaho. Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 AM, Friday, January 19, 2007 at the First Christian Church, 201 N. Division Ave., Sandpoint, Idaho. Burial will be held at Pinecrest Memorial Park Cemetery. He was born in Spokane, WA on March 26, 1911 the son of Oswald Arthur and Rudolphina (Binders) Burnett. Art started to school at Nine Miles Falls, WA, with his brother Charlie, at age 8 and graduated from the 8th grade after 42 months of schooling. He was raised in the Athol area on Cedar Mountain. Art worked with his family on a farm, which was predominately strawberries. At the age of 16, he rented a farm in the Athol area. Then he worked for the Forest Service for several years. He married Myrtle Johnson from Coeur d’Alene on March 28, 1937. They enjoyed a very rewarding life together of nearly 70 years. They lived in Coeur d’Alene for six years. During that time they built a house while working at Potlatch Lumber Co. In March 1943, they bought and moved to the farm in Oden where they had a dairy and raised Angus cattle. Art not only took care of his own farm but did custom combining on several other farms. He also did carpenter jobs in the area and worked at Cabinet Gorge Dam. In later years he drove school bus. During this time he was on the Board of Directors for Northern Lights, A.S.C. Board, Cattlemen’s Assoc., Soil Conservation, and the Co-op. Art was Bonner County Grassman of the year and Bonner County Cattleman of the year. He especially enjoyed his many years spent as barn superintendent at the Bonner County Fair. He enjoyed making rope halters for first-year 4-Hers. In 2004 he was the Grand Marshall at the Bonner County Fair. Music was a big part of his life. He started playing the fiddle for dances at the age of 14. He continued playing for dances until a few years ago. He played base fiddle, the accordion and fiddle. Art was a member of the Western Band, Nite Herders. He was preceded in death by his parents, his son Kenneth Ray; brothers and sisters Charles Burnett, Loretta Meredith, Ann Durocher; and granddaughter Melisa Ann Burnett. He is survived by his wife Myrtle of 69 years; children Alene Foster of Portland, Or.; Delores (Clint) Campbell of Sandpoint, ID.; Donald (Janice) of Banks, OR.; Melvin (Judy) of Libby, MT.; Lee (Alison) of Sandpoint, ID.; Lyle (Laurie) of Spokane, WA.; Herbert (Kim) of Heber City, UT.; 31 grandchildren; 49 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to Oden Community Hall in care of Oden Busy Bees, 822 Lower Pack River Road, Sandpoint, ID 83864. The family would like to thank the Community, Doctors and the staff at the Life Care Center for all their love and support.