Donald Ray St. George

Longtime Fernwood resident Donald R. St. George (90) passed away peacefully in Coeur d' Alene, ID on November 29, 2025. He was surrounded by family as he lost his long and bravely fought battle against cancer. He will be missed for his keen wit, generous spirit, and deep knowledge of all practical matters.

Donald was born in Tekoa, WA on March 5, 1935, as the first child of Dallas and Ruby Esther St. George of Sanders, ID. He was joined with siblings, Herbert Dale, Dallas Roger, and sister Bernadine. As a young boy he attended the small one room Highland school situated off Highway 95 near Sanders. The family moved to St. Maries where he attended grade school until family moved to Fernwood in 1947. He graduated from St. Maries High School with the class of 1953.

Donald served in the Army and was stationed in the DMZ in Korea prior to an honorable discharge in 1960. He and Marilyn Shattuck married in 1961 and resided in Fernwood where they were blessed with son Joseph and daughter Connie. Though later divorced, they remained friends and shared time at family gatherings throughout the years.

Donald was an avid outdoor sportsman, marksman, and enjoyed hiking, skiing, music, fishing, and hunting. He along with brother Roger and friends, enjoyed endless adventures throughout the St. Maries River drainage. He loved being in the woods and upon graduation he became a logger specializing as a timber faller. It was not until he had a non-work-related injury that he went to work as a millwright for Diamond International lumber mill near Fernwood. After the mill closed, he went to work for Emerald Creek Garnet where near the end of his employment years, he worked in India guiding the construction of a garnet mill. He was a master welder, designer, and mechanic who loved building and renovating all kinds of vehicles and other steel fabrications. Most recently enjoying riding-the-rails in his perfected rail car.

He could always be counted on to provide a helping hand and in earlier years, led Boy Scouts and worked with others putting the water and sewer system in Fernwood.

Donald was preceded in death by his parents and infant brother Herbert Dale.

He is survived by son Joseph (Trish) Vancouver, WA, daughter Connie (Robert) Boise, brother Dallas Roger St. George, Coeur d' Alene, and sister Bernadine Baltz of Fernwood, niece Mia (Tim) Bashaw, Coeur d' Alene, grandchildren Suzi, Allie, Clair, and Joslyn.

No service is planned at this time, but there will be a gathering to honor him on the family property beside Crystal Creek during the early summer of 2026. A private committal will be held at Woodlawn Cemetery in St. Maries, ID.