Obituary of Walter Clayton Hibbard

Walter C. Hibbard (83) longtime St. Maries area building contractor, died Sept. 11, 2015 at Kootenai Health in Coeur d’ Alene, ID. He was born June 14, 1932 to Rema and Lucy (Hoskins) Hibbard at Allock, KY. Walt grew up in Allock, KY. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1949. He served in Korea aboard the USS St. Paul (Heavy Cruiser). He was discharged in March of 1953 and made a home in Southern California. Walt married Faye Votaw on Aug. 24, 1953 and they made their home in So. California. Walt began his career in working in light commercial and residential construction in Orange County where he formed H & H Construction. He closed the business in 1959. Walt then went to work for other building contractors in the area. In 1967, He purchased 20 acres up Cherry Creek near St. Maries. He moved to St. Maries the following year and built their home on Cherry Creek. Walt traveled back and forth between St. Maries and California to work. He moved permanently to St. Maries in 1981 and built his shop and developed his property. In 1983, he and Mike LaPlante formed Mountain View Construction and worked together until 1994 when he retired and sold his interest to Mr. LaPlante. His wife died in 1991. Walt and Bettye Roberson decided to join their lives together in 1992 and made their home together. Walt enjoyed traveling, hunting, fishing and working on the Community Garden. He also was very active in the St. Maries Shrine Club of which he was a member. Walt was also a member of St. Maries Masonic Lodge #63 AF & AM, The Scottish Rite Bodies of Coeur d’ Alene, ID, Calam Shriners of Lewiston, ID. Walt was also a Past Director of the Royal Order of Jesters Court # 62 of Coeur d’ Alene, the Calam Shriners Legion of Honor, St. Maries Crutch Patrol and the St. Maries Elks Lodge # 1418. Walt and Bettye enjoyed their trip to Boston in 2000 when the St. Maries Shrine Club Crutch Patrol went there for the Shrine Imperial Session and marched in two parades in Boston. Walt is survived by his companion Bettye at the family home. Grandson’s David Allen and Diana Vogel of Portland, OR, Michael Troy and Courtney Vogel along with their children Evangeline and Elena Vogel of Aliso Viejo, CA and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by ½ brother Kenneth Smallwood and sisters Hedy Couch, Billie Osborne and Ruth Bolen. A funeral service is planned for Monday September 21, 2015 at 11:00 am at Hodge Funeral Home in St. Maries. Graveside services with Masonic Rites following at Woodlawn Cemetery in St. Maries. A gathering of family and friends to share a meal will follow at the Masonic Lodge in St. Maries. Please visit his online memorial at www.hodgefuneralhome.com