Archie C. Sorenson 94 lifetime resident of St. Maries, died peacefully at his home on April 19th following an extended illness. He was born September 20, 1915 to Barnhart and Louise Hanson Sorenson in the home he currently resided in at St. Maries. He grew up in St. Maries and graduated from St. Maries High School with the class of 1934. Following graduation, he became a member of the volunteer fire department. He attended the Univ. of Idaho for 1 year. He married Janet Gaskill in 1939 and they were later divorced. Archie enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1942 and served in the Aleutian Islands. He was discharged in 1945. He married Beverly Metz in 1945 at Oakland, CA where he went to work for a machine shop. He moved back to St. Maries n 1947 where he went to work for a local gas station. He later went into business with Lloyd Gaskill and built a machine shop on State Hwy 5. He became assistant fire chief for the Volunteer Fire Dept. in 1952 and became Chief in 1962. He retired from that position in 1985. He sold his interest in the business and went to work for Frasier Chevrolet where he started a body and fender shop in 1955. He opened his own body shop above Benewah Motors in 1968. His wife died in 1970. He purchased the Westen Auto Store in 1970 and sold it back to Bob Schwartz in 1971. He married Connie Denton at Coeur d' Alene Dec. 4, 1971. He then opened S & S. Auto parts Store. He sold the business in 1980 and retired. His wife Connie died in 2006. He enjoyed golfing, bowling and dancing. He was a P.E.R. And Past Dist. Deputy of the St. Maries Elks Lodge of which he was a member for over 71 years. He was a member of the St. Maries Eagles Lodge and the St. Maries American Legion. He along with John Welz, John Meschko and Gene Engholm provided military honors of flag folding and presention to many area veterans families. In 2008 he was inducted into the St. Maries High School Wall of Fame along with Kay Sather and the five Thurston siblings for their history of volunteer work and dedication towards the citizens of St. Maries. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law Gary and Kitty Sorenson of Engleside, Ill. He is also survived by 6 grandchildren and 3 nieces . He was preceded in death by daughter Karen Darcey in 2007 and sisters Solvig Gregg and Lillian Ellerson. At his request , no services are planned . He will be laid to rest next to his wife Connie at Woodlawn Cemetery. Hodge Funeral Home, St. Maries is entrusted with arrangements.
