Obituary of Leslie Melvin Vannatter

Leslie M. Vannatter (77) longtime St. Maries resident, died Feb. 6, 2012 at St. Maries. He was born July 18, 1934 to Charles and Ann (Rusch) Vannatter at Nashua, MT. He moved to St. Maries with his family in 1942. He attended St. Maries schools before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force in 1952. He served in Germany. Following his honorable discharge in 1956, he returned to St. Maries and went to work for Tyson Creek Lumber Mill. He also worked for Broadfoot Lumber Mill before attending Columbia Basin Comm. College in Pasco, WA. He went on to attend Eastern Washington Univ. for 2 years. He returned to St. Maries and went to work for Idaho Forest Industries before beginning his career with St. Maries Complex of Potlatch Corp. in the 1970's. He was working as a dryer feeder when he retired in 1997. Les enjoyed fishing, especially the upper St. Joe River. He never married. Les is survived by his brother and sister-in-law Bob and Geraldine Vannatter of St. Maries and his sister Shirley Brown of Albany, OR. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his brother Laverne Vannatter in 1995. At his request, no services will be held. Visit his online memorial and sign his guestbook at www.hodgefuneralhome.com. Read Leslie Vannatter's Obituary and Guestbook on www.hodgefuneralhome.com.