Chester Glen Fifield

Chester Glen Fifield, 88, went to be with the Lord on Feb. 21, 2017. He passed away at Cabinet Peaks Medical Center in Libby after a long struggle with heart disease and asbestos.

Glen was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho to Chester Joseph and Elsie Irene Fifield on Sept. 7, 1928. He was the second born son, with brothers Louis, Richard and Norman, and a sister Allyce. The family moved to Butte, Mont. where Glen attended school and his father worked in the mines. They later moved to Portland, Oregon, and he went to work in the shipyards with his dad. When the family left Portland and returned to Idaho Falls, Glen was hired for a large ranch to herd sheep on horseback in the outlying hills. He spent his days with nothing but his horse, his dogs, an old rifle, a few weeks of food and the sheep. He often spoke fondly of those days as being some of the happiest of his life.

At the age of 18, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he was sent overseas to Austria and Germany. He enjoyed his time in the service and made many lifelong friends. At one point, as he and the troops were marching through Germany, he realized they were marching on the very same road the Roman Legions had used hundreds of years before. Glen was always interested in history and an expert on the subject. He received his honorable discharge from the Army in May of 1948.

Glen discovered the Keeler Creek Valley that same year and decided to purchase a 160 acre homestead he found for sale there. He met Stacia Kovar when he drove his team of horses down to the Kovar farm on Iron Creek to help put in their hay. The couple were married in August, 1950 and remained married for almost 63 years. Stacia passed in 2013. They raised their four children on the ranch; Frank, Jim, Tressa and Jennifer.

In 1950 Glen was called back into active duty for the Korean conflict and was released in 1952. In March of 1953, he went to work for the J. Neils Lumber Company; he continued to work in the lumber business until his retirement in 1985. He also worked his ranch, raising Hereford cattle and quarter horses. At the age of 87 Glen was still down in the hayfield, driving a tractor and helping work on the haying equipment. He was an inspiration to his children with his high energy and enthusiasm. He loved his life on his ranch and lived it to the fullest.

Glen is survived by his sons, Frank and Jim, both of Troy and his daughters, Tressa of Troy, and Jennifer of Oregon. He is also survived by his sister Allyce Hanson of Troy. Grandchildren include Francesca and Madison Smith of Oregon, Jamie Canavan-Fifield of Texas, Owen Canavan- Fifield of Libby, Lorrene Hensen of Troy, Justin Fifield of Oaklahoma, Blaine Fifield of Butte, and Warren Fifield of Washington. He is also survived by many great-grandchildren and a great-great-granddaughter.

Glen will be very missed by all who loved him.