Roberts, Harold Lee

Harold Lee Roberts checked into heaven on May 17, 2010 
with his family at his side after a short battle with lung 
cancer. Harold was born in Hamilton, Mont. on Sept. 14, 
1934 to Clinton and Mildred Roberts. Harold served two 
years in the U.S. Army from 1957 - 1959. His work career was 
spent with the U.S. Forest Service in forest fire suppression. 
He became a smokejumper in 1953 based in Missoula, Mont. 
and jumped for 18 years finishing in 1971 with 252 fire 
jumps. This was a very important part of his life and he 
formed many lifelong friendships during his jumping career. 
Harold then moved to Libby, Mont. as a forest dispatcher in 
the Supervisor's office. In 1977, Harold moved to McCall, 
Idaho as project supervisor of the McCall Smokejumper Base. 
He was in this position until his retirement from the Forest 
Service in 1984. Harold is a charter member of the National 
Smokejumper Association. Harold married LaVerne Burns on 
March 18, 1961; they just celebrated 49 years of marriage. 
Harold and LaVerne have three children and 14 
grandchildren. David Lee was born Aug. 27, 1962, Teri Lynne 
came along July 14, 1963 and Jeffrey Lyle blessed the family 
on Nov. 23, 1969. Harold lived a wonderful life and was 
blessed with a close family that was by his side till the very 
end. He was able to enjoy 26 years of retirement and able to 
choose what he wanted to do each day. Early in retirement, 
he drove the activity bus for the McCall-Donnelly School 
District. He loved this time spent with the coaches, teachers 
and students and he was very loyal to his McCall-Donnelly 
Vandals. He also loved to work with his hands and spent 
many years making woodworking projects for his children, 
grandchildren and LaVerne. He was always willing and able to 
offer his handyman skills to anyone in need. Harold was able 
to spend as much time as possible on the rivers of central 
Idaho pursuing his love of salmon and steelhead fishing. He 
met many friends and spent many hours on the river banks 
ready to land the next "big one". The last eight years Harold 
has spent the winters in Phoenix, Ariz. and fully enjoyed 
reconnecting with the many people he had met throughout 
his life. He golfed most days and enjoyed the warm weather 
as he could putter around each day doing various projects. 
Harold is survived by his wife LaVerne, his children Dave and 
Valerie Roberts of Meridian, Idaho, Teri and Randy Howard of 
Fruitland, Idaho and Jeff and Lisa Roberts of Meridian, Idaho. 
He is also survived by his grandchildren Jake and Tiffany 
Roberts, Stacia Roberts, Zachary Howard, Cortney and Scott 
Osborne, Caleb Howard, and Alexandra, Savannah, Chase, 
Saige, Addyson, Havyn, and Jackson Roberts, his brother 
James Roberts of Enumclaw, Wash. and his sister Bonnie Evers 
of Darby, Mont. Harold is preceded in death by his father 
and mother and his brother-in-law Wallace Evers. A memorial 
service will be held at Mt. Life Church, Hwy 55, McCall, Idaho 
on Saturday May 22, 2010, at 11 a.m. Services are under the 
direction of Heikkila Funeral Chapel, McCall. Harold is a 
member of the McCall Church of the Nazarene, PO Box 
4250, McCall, Idaho 83638. Contributions may be made in 
Harold's memory to the McCall Church of the Nazarene 
building fund.

Published in Idaho Statesman on May 20, 2010