Christian Olsen Penner, 69

Christian Olsen Penner, 69, passed away Sept. 28, 2021, quietly in his home in Troy with his wife by his side. He was born in 1952 to JoAnn Olsen Klever in Phoenix.

Shortly after his birth, his parents divorced. The next year, JoAnn married Joe Penner, who adopted Chris. He and his family followed Joe up and down the West Coast while his father worked in construction. They finally landed in Boise, Idaho, where Chris attended various schools.

Chris joined the U.S. Navy and received an honorable discharge at the end of the Vietnam War. He moved to Phoenix, where he met Betty Lou McClelland in 1987 and they were married in 1988. After moving back to Boise, he worked for Willis Shaw Express for many years, earning the coveted award for One Million Miles driven without accident or a ticket. While there, he was selected as a driver instructor in Boise and Elm Springs, Ark.

In 2001, Chris bought his own truck while working for Martin Transport. He moved his truck to Trailer Convoy. Together with his beloved cat, Bisquit, he traveled from coast to coast and north to south. He managed to leave Bisquit’s paw prints in all of the lower 48 states.

Leaving trucking in 2003, he started his own business, C & B Mobile Truck Alignments. He was much respected for his dedication to detail as well as his professional and ethical business practices. His reputation reached far beyond Montana’s borders.

In 2005, he returned to trucking, working as a “flatbedder” for Aamodt Trucking in Bonners Ferry, Idaho.

He and Betty moved to the Libby and Troy area in 1995 where he lived until his death. He loved this state and enjoyed many of the things it offers, including hunting, fishing, reloading and horseback riding.

While tarping a load in 2008, he fell from his truck and suffered a burst fracture of his back. He never returned to trucking. His remaining years were spent traveling and taking care of his home and wife, Betty.

He was preceded in death by his father, Joe Penner; grandparents; step-daughter, Debra Goldner; and mother-in-law, Johanna McClelland.

Survivors include his wife, Betty; mother, JoAnn, and brother, Joe, both of Libby; sister, Jerikim, (Michael) and Ben all of France; niece and nephew, Sophora and Samuel; daughters, Shawna Martindale of Gooding, Idaho, and Angie Ludlow (Rod) of Middleton, Idaho; step-son, Michael Dyer (Kelly) of Windam, Ohio; step-daughter, Pamela Shilling of Brunswick, Ga.; grandchildren, Victor of Phoenix, Harlee, Niklas and Adaline Dose all of Idaho; step-grandchildren, Steven (Ashley), Kevin and Nathan of Windam, Ohio, and Madison and Spencer of Brunswick, Ga.; a great-grandbaby, Quinn Noelle Dyer of Windam, Ohio; and his many friends in trucking and Montana.

To you Christ I say, “I love you dearly, miss you terribly, and will wait patiently until we meet again.”

If you wish to remember Chris, please give a donation to Kootenai Pets for Life. Arrangements were under the care of Schnackenberg Funeral Home of Libby. Online memories and condolences may be shared by visiting www.schnackenbergfh.com.