Joseph Franklin Stevens

Joseph Franklin Stevens entered into rest May 08, 2015 at the Washington State Veterans Home Port Orchard, Washington.

Joe was born to Franklin and Margaret Stevens January 3, 1924 at Woodside, Idaho along with a twin sister Josephine whose life was short passing January 15, 1924.

Joe lived at in the Clearwater/Lewis-Clark Valley over the years in addition to Forrest, Idaho. These were Cherry Lane (his favorite) and Sweetwater, Idaho where he graduated from Lapwai High School in 1942.

He had previously, prior to graduation joined the Idaho Nation Guard in Lewiston and enlisted in the US Army. Upon graduation he attended basic training and specialized training at Fort Swift, Texas becoming a shovel operator/machinery and was attached with the 611 th Engineers.

This unit was dispatched to the European Theater seeing action at Normandy, France and Germany during WWII. They also worked on the bridge over the Rhine River which was instrumental to the forces entering Germany and was about only the only time of WWII he talked about. He did mention they operated dozers directly behind the front lines forming and closing trenches for the deceased during battle and movement. He talked very little about anything else while he was in Europe with the exception of gathering eggs and potatoes from the locals for some type of favorite home meals. This came after commandeering what I remember being called a Cheetah (a German amphibious similar to the US amphibious jeeps). Not only did they operate the shovels, dozers and various equipment in their unit, He often stated they loaded, hauled such on semi- trucks which they drove when in transit also. He also liked to tell about being in New York City and meeting up with his Uncle Bill Currier, who also was in the service and they came across each other coming home at one of the parades.

Upon return he mustered out of the service at Ft. Lewis, WA and returned to the Lewis Clark and Clearwater valleys where home and family was. As usual for the time he did not want to leave the area or be mobile any longer electing to settle on Craig Mountain in Winchester after a brief time working at the Spengler Bakery better known later as Holsum Bakery (Steve Spengler, an Uncle). On the Mountain he would be employed by the Craig Mountain Lumber Company (sold in early 50’s to Hallack and Howard Lumber Company and then to Boise Cascade in early 1960) in the woods as a scalar, driving to the forests behind Grangeville until the mid-fifties. Joe would enroll and complete courses in Auto Mechanics and Mechanics, furthering his mechanical maintenance he learned in the service on the equipment. He also studied Electricity, Electronics and completed a TV-Radio Repair course (doing such after hours and after the tech there left the Camass Prairie, buying his equipment and building the families 1st TV) and Welding He then was taken into the mill at Winchester, was a millwright until 1960 when he became night Superintendent until the mill closed in 1965. He and Stan Devin (believed to have been) would be the last to leave the mill after the auction of all the machinery (or that which Boise Cascade who then owned the mill shipping newer, automated equipment to other mills) maintaining the railroad daily to Craig Junction, requiring daily trips to the junction and repair duties. This facilitated dismantling of the machinery leaving only some scrap metal, buildings, and brick of which the mill was built to be salvaged.

September 1, 1950 he married Juanita Mae Smith Orr in Lewiston Idaho. They had 3 children Clifford, Bernice and Danny. Juanita passed July 30, 2008 in Tacoma, WA. They were married 57 years.

After the mill closure they purchased the Kofe- Kup restaurant in Moscow, ID. While attending business, Biles-Coleman Lumber Company called many times during a 2 week period to recruit Joe to be the Night Superintendent at its large Omak mill (he hated leaving the area around the Lewiston Valley and moving further from family). The offer rose to a point he couldn't justify turning it down. Joe would commute on weekends (leaving Nita with restaurant operations) over the next year and a decision was made for the family to join him in Omak. He would go on to take over operations at its highly automated plant in Grand Coulee until its closure in a declining lumber market in 1972.

During the next year or so he would work for Evergreen Freight in Grand Coulee as a driver and M&M Trailer Sales as a lead installer until obtaining a position at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard to gain a pension as he lost his due to being Supervision in the lumber industry. He was a Woodcraftsman, Joiner until his retirement in 1994. His eldest son moved here in 1969.

2000 brought a debilitating stroke which he recovered from significantly over the next couple of years with much effort and work. He never fully recovered but could walk, but had little use of his right arm. Eventually due to the stroke, age, and Nita’s passing in 2008, 2011 would lead to assisted living facilities and the Veterans Home for the last year, where he entered a much deserved rest.

In addition he is survived by his sister Louella Keng of Lewiston, Idaho, Grandson Nick Stevens, Idaho, Christy, Allen Risley. Preceded in death by a twin sister Josephine Margaret Stevens, Frank Stevens his father, and Mike Stevens his grandson.

Over the years he belonged to and/or was active in the Woodworkers Union, Winchester Federal Credit Union (helping found such), IOOF, American Legion (past Commander) Post 38 Craigmont, ID, Ground Observers Corp Craigmont, ID, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, DeMolay, and Rainbow Girls, and various Supervisor Groups.

May God, Jesus Christ, Mom, and all the family welcome you home Dad and rest your soul.

Written by Clifford F. Stevens

Donations in his honor can be sent to the Washington Veterans Home Retsil, P.O. Box 698, Retsil, Wa 98378