Dennis Neil Doney, 72

Dennis Neil Doney passed away Oct. 15, 2020, at his ranch East of Thompson Falls, Mont. Dennis was born in Wallace, Idaho, on Dec. 31, 1947, to Donald and Irma Doney.

He started school in Osburn, Idaho, where he grew up, attended and graduated from Wallace High School in 1966. Dennis played football and enjoyed it but also had a job to tend to.

He wanted to get more education, so through his dad’s association with the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department, Dennis lived at the fire department, answered night calls, and attended classes at college daily. On Saturday’s and Sunday’s, he worked at the Osburn Fire Hall. He was known as the “Kelly Man” which allowed the regular firemen to have three days off once in a while. He stayed with his brother until graduation a couple more years.

When Dennis's father retired, Dennis was named Osburn Fire Chief and later mayor of Osburn.

He had little side trips before he was a fireman. He was deployed to Vietnam for nearly two years coming home as a Sergeant in the Army.

When Dennis retired from the fire department, he moved to Thompson Falls, Mont., where he drove a gas truck to fuel homes. Very soon, he was employed by the police department in charge of the jail where he worked for the sheriff’s office and stayed on until 2007 when he retired. In 2006, Dennis married Kim Evans who had also worked for the police department in Thompson Falls. They built a new home on the Thompson River. In 2016, they sold the house and bought a ranch as they both loved horses. They were able to enjoy the horses running along with the dogs and chickens.

His passing was a shock to everyone. Surviving are his wife, Kim Doney; mother Irma Doney of Silverton, Idaho; brother Lloyd Doney of Troy, Mont.; sister Dawn McNinch of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; niece Kerri Tester and her two sons, Jake and Josh Tester; nephews John Potts of North Dakota, Rick McNinch of Osburn and Todd McNinch of Coeur d’Alene.

There will be no funeral as his ashes will be spread in the hills around Thompson Falls as he wished.