Richard Flinn

1949 - 2025

Richard Flinn, 76

Richard Edwin Flinn, of Post Falls, Idaho, passed away peacefully on November 19, 2025. He was a loving father, stepfather, grandfather, brother, uncle, and partner. Richard was born May 20, 1949, in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, to Paul and Helen Kempel Flinn.

He completed all 12 grades in Boundary County, Idaho, and went to Spokane Community College for one year to study industrial electricity. In August of 1969, he went to work for GTE/Automatic Electric as an Installer in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and stayed with Automatic Electric for seven years, traveling primarily to the Pacific Northwest, installing telephone equipment in the phone offices. In July of 1976, he went to work for GTE/General Telephone in Kennewick, Washington, as a Central Office Equipment Installer. In 1978, he transferred to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, in the same capacity, traveling to the different central offices in the area.

In 1978 in Libby, Montana, he met Caren Hiatt Hopkins, and they married in June of 1980 in Sandpoint, Idaho. With this marriage came three stepchildren, Patti, David, and Annette. Together, they had one daughter, Amber Janelle. They later divorced in 1999.

In 2013, he met Llyn Stewert, his loving partner for 13 years. They shared many memories of traveling and wintering in Arizona, where they met many friends. Richard "Rich" enjoyed traveling, RVing, hiking, fishing, camping, ATVing, cruise ships, classic cars, and his family, especially his granddaughters, Sophia and Avah. He attempted to teach them all the goofy things he learned growing up.

He was proud of the fact that he still had his first vehicle, a 1948 Chevrolet 5-window deluxe that he purchased in April of 1967, while a junior at Bonners Ferry High School. He has won numerous awards in the area. The highlight was having it on the cover of two national publications. Rich was the founder of the local Phuddy Duddy Car Group starting it in 2004 as a "tongue-in-cheek" joke with a BBQ at his home in Hayden, Idaho with 12 of his closest friends. It now has a following of over 130 car enthusiasts.

Rich is preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Helen (Kempel) Flinn; sister, Judy Frei; niece, Hallie Olson; and step-granddaughter Kaylynn Butler. He is survived by his loving partner Llyn Stewert of Post Falls, Idaho; daughter, Amber (Eugene) Chavez and granddaughters Sophia and Avah of Post Falls, Idaho; sister, Peggy (Roger) Myers and brother Jack (Violet) Flinn of Bonners Ferry, Idaho; stepdaughter Patti (Rob) Hindberg and step-granddaughter Miranda (Rob) Hanratty of Meridian, Idaho; stepson David (Raeleen) Hopkins of Spokane Valley, Washington; step-granddaughter Brenna (Jon) Temes of Ferdinand, Idaho; stepdaughter Annette (DJ) Wiese of Meridian, Idaho; step-grandsons Taran (Dee) Wiese of Boise, Idaho, Tanner (Madeline) Wiese and Caiden (Cheyenne) Wiese of Meridian, Idaho; along with numerous great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, December 13, 2025, at English Funeral Chapel, 1700 N Spokane Street, Post Falls, Idaho, at 11:00 a.m., with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to The Make-A-Wish Foundation.