Arie Elroy Poelstra

Arie Elroy Poelstra, 85, of Sandpoint passed away Saturday, May 23, 2015 at Valley Vista. Funeral services will be in Coffelt’s Funeral Chapel at 9:00am, Thursday, May 28th. Wayne Gunter, Community of Christ in Sagle, will be conducting with interment in Pinecrest Memorial Park. Arie was born on September 5, 1929 on a farm, to Elmer and Lena Poelstra, in Farmingdale, SD. One of 4 brothers and 3 sisters. He started school on his birthday, Labor Day in a country school in Farmingdale. He moved to St Lawrence, SD in the 3rd grade and then to Marbelton, MT in the 7th grade. In his sophomore year he moved to Sandpoint and graduated from Sandpoint High School, on Euclid Avenue, in 1947. He worked in the woods and at a farm store until being drafted into military service in February 1951. He served two years in the Army, including 10 months in Korea, and was honorably discharged. He returned home and worked in area sawmills. On June 1, 1953 he married Ida Remsberg and they were divorced in 1962. He drove a semi truck, in North Dakota and married Viola E. Timblin on May 28, 1966. He started with Union Pacific Railroad and was a carpenter, doing bridge construction, retiring in 1992 after 27 years. He then worked on his farm selling sand, hay and logs. He is survived by his children Arnold Poelsta, Bruce (and Dori) Timblin, Mark Timblin, Rex (and Margee) Timblin, Marcia (and Bruce) Crabb; 12 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. Also surviving is his brother Renald (and Helen) Poelstra two sisters Antoine Tiffany; and Ellena (and Darrell) Brown. Numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Viola, his daughter Pamela, his brothers John and Cornie, and his sister Edna.