A graveside service for Earle Wendell Halstead, 61, of Pierce will be at 3 p.m. Friday at the Pierce Cemetery. The Rev. George King of St. Theresa's Catholic Church at Orofino will officiate.
Halstead died Monday at Clearwater Valley Hospital at Orofino of a heart attack.
He was born Nov. 29, 1935, at Portsmouth, Ohio, to Earle Wilson Halstead and Hilda Jenkins Halstead, and raised in that area until the family moved to California when he was about 6. They settled in the Central Valley area near Salinas, Calif.
He graduated from high school in California, and later earned master's degrees in engineering, Western history and political science.
He married Shirley Ann Schmidt Oct. 15, 1960, at Austin, Texas. They divorced in 1985. He married Frances A. Tyler Nov. 5, 1992, at Tonopah, Nev.
Halstead joined the U.S. Air Force and made it a career. Through his years of service he attended many courses and schools, including the Strategic Air Command Non-commission Officer's Academy and the nuclear weapons specialist course.
He received numerous medals, including the U.S. Air Force Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters and the U.S. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with four Oak Leaf Clusters.
Halstead retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1981. After retirement, he lived in Texas and in the area of Mariposa, Calif. He moved to Idaho in August 1995.
He enjoyed recreational
gold mining, fishing, camping
and reading, especially Western history.
He is survived by his wife of Pierce; his mother, Hilda Jenkins Artis of Auberry, Calif.; two sons, Darrell Wendell Halstead of Austin, Texas, and Douglas Ward Halstead of Pierce; two daughters, Carolyn Annette Hosek of Austin and Robbin Lynn Halstead of Chicago; two stepbrothers, Larry and Jerry Halstead, both of Florida; and Brenda (last name unavailable) of California; and four grandchildren.
Memorials may be sent to the Halsteads at P.O. Box G, Pierce 83546. Pine Hills Funeral Chapel at Orofino is in charge of arrangements.
