Lennie Dean Jordan, 58, Deary

Lennie Jordan passed on from this life to be with his Savior and Lord Friday, Dec. 24, 2010. His family was by his side in their Deary home. Lennie had been battling brain cancer since the end of August. Lennie was so grateful that the Lord allowed him to spend these four months with his family and friends.

Len was born to James Theodore and Norma Jordan in Ontario, Ore., July 31, 1952. He was the second child of six. Len grew up in Westfall, Vale and Baker City, Ore., and then Letha, Idaho. He lived his adult life in the towns of Westfall, Elk River and Deary.

Lennie graduated from Emmett (Idaho) High School in 1971 and spent the next nine years working on the Jordan family ranch at Westfall. Len trusted in Christ for salvation when he was 19 years old.

While attending Emmett High School, Len met Bettie Fischer (BJ) and married "his gal" July 29, 1972.

Len and BJ moved to Elk River in 1980, where Lennie worked as custodian at the Elk River school. He loved his job there because it gave him the opportunity to serve people, both students and staff.

Len could often be found riding through the mountain roads on his Honda 90, scouting for game, and hunting with his family and friends. He spent his summers cutting firewood for himself, others and the school. He also enjoyed panning and dredging for gold in Pierce. During the late 1980s, Len made three dream trips to the Kenai Peninsula and Homer, Alaska, to do commercial fishing for a friend.

After the school closed in 1990, Len moved his family to Deary and was a CAT logger for Keck Logging. Later, he became a line machine operator for St. Maries Logging and really enjoyed working with his buddies. He started Bear Creek Bison at the Avon ranch and had as many as 60 head of bison.

In 2007, Len and BJ went with friends to Alaska once again. This time another dream was fulfilled when he went on a successful grizzly bear hunt.

Len was well known for telling stories and for his open hand; he loved helping people, whether it was putting on dinners, having company over, or sharing meat, huckleberries, wood, or anything else he thought one might need. Lennie loved the Lord Jesus and daily desired to encourage others.

Len and BJ have three terrific children: son Mark; two daughters, Angie and LennyAnn; and 11, almost 12, grandchildren. Len is survived by his sweetheart, BJ; son Mark; daughter and son-in-law Angie and Josh Doering; daughter and son-in-law LennyAnn and Ben Bishop; Doering grandchildren, Caleb, Nathan, Josiah, Timothy and Daniel; and Bishop grandchildren, Hannah, Mercy, Sadie Rose, James, William, Isabel and a baby due in January; Len is also survived by his mother, Norma Jordan; brothers James Herman Jordan and Walter Jordan and his wife Teri; sisters Kathy Jordan, Lisa Jordan, and Rosalie and her husband Jerry Copeland; BJ's mother, Louise, and her husband Chris Eskildson; BJ's brothers and sisters, Sherrie and Craig Day, William and Paula Fischer, Billie and Ken Robbins, and Elmer and Kelly Johnson; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Len was preceded in death by his father, Ted Jordan.

A memorial service for Len, conducted by dear friends, is being held at 2 p.m. Jan. 16 at the Logos School Fieldhouse on A Street in Moscow. A private burial was conducted at the Avon Cemetery.

Memorial donations made in honor of Len's life can be given to Care Net of the Palouse, Logos School, or Deary Community Bible Church.

Short's Funeral Chapel of Moscow is helping the family and online condolences may be sent to www.shortsfuner

alchapel.net.