Earl Rueben Sparks

Earl was born in Terrenton, Idaho September 28th, 1929 to Clara Lucretia and Roscoe Rueben Sparks. Earl’s early years were in Mud Lake, Idaho one town over from Terrenton. 1933 their family grew and Earl was blessed with a sister, Evelyn, whom he loved dearly. Soon after, his parents moved their family to Montana and bought 200-acres in Mission Valley at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. This is where Earl would live most of his life. Eventually his family bought livestock and Earl grew up working the family farm. He graduated from Ronan High School. Earl liked boxing as a youth and continued this sport while he attended Montana State University in Bozeman. But those college dreams were left behind when he met the love of his life. Earl married Freda Josephine in 1949. He took on a job to help construct the Libby Dam on the Kootenai River in Northwest Montana and soon started a family. By 1955 they had 5 boys; Leonard, David, Darrell, Leslie and Douglas, and had moved to Richland, Washington where the boys would grow up. At that time Earl was working at The Hanford Site, as a Millwright for General Electric and Douglas United Nuclear. As his sons grew older Earl moved to Portland, Oregon and joined into a Millwright Union. He purchased a Gas Station with an auto repair shop on 49th & Belmont, down the street from his home for when millwright jobs were slow. After Earl’s sons graduated high school; 4 of them joined the Armed Forces, while Les followed in his father's footsteps. After his sons were grown and his marriage to Freda ended, Earl went back to live on his family farm in Ronan, Montana. He worked the farm and as a Millwright. Earl loved to tinker so he also opened a small engine repair shop. After retiring in 1992, Earl continued to live on the farm happily gardening, hunting and fishing his days away. In 2008 Earl moved back to the Pacific Northwest to be closer to his sons Leonard, Darrell, Les and his adopted son James. His final years were spent in Vancouver, Washington living with his son Les; Les’ wife Ruby & her daughters Brianna and Christina. He enjoyed making new memories with his sons, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He never missed a birthday or a Christmas. He was an exceptional provider and family man. He is truly loved and will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Earl is survived by: His sons; Les and James. His grandchildren; Christy, Adrienne, Kelly, Jonathan, Reanna, Jennifer, Sarah, Stephanie, Edward, and Jack. His Great-Grandchildren; Bryan, Brandon, Andrew, Annika, Arianna, Brooke, Kailey, Elye, Owen, Alenna, Jacob, Ryder, Ethan, Max, Brinlee, Athena, Logan, Gavin, Aurora, and Edie. His sister Evelyn, nephew Robert and niece Linda.

Preceded in death by; His sons David, Douglas, Leonard & Darrell.