Dennis Wetherell dies

In January the Chamber of Commerce named Dennis Hart Wetherell, 55, its man of the year, bestowing the prestigous honor on the behind-the-scenes leader for 30 years of service to the community.

Friday, March 15, Wetherell died, surrounded by his family, following a four-year battle with cancer.

At his funeral Tuesday, the crowd at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church was spilled out into the foyer area as the community mourned one of its favorite sons.

Wetherell never sought the limelight, but was considered by other leaders in the community to be one of its most valued members.

"He got things done," said one of his close friends, Mike Miller, branch manager at Wells Fargo bank. "He was definitely a leader. When he saw something that had to be done he took the resources he had, people, his intelligence and his money, and then got things done.

"I will remember him for all the good that he did for the people around us."

Ron Swearingen, the community economic development director, knew Wetherell for 50 years. The pair "met in kindergarten, and we'd been best friends ever since.

"The community gets hurt when you lose an asset like Dennis.

"He was a man who was honest, kind, friendly and generous every day of his life."

Wetherell had a reputation for never saying a bad word about anyone, for always being upbeat and optimistic. When he was diagnosed with cancer four years ago, he was determined to beat the disease. He underwent a number of major surgeries, as well as the radiation and chemotherapy treatments that leave most people debilitated. But throughout it all, he never complained and offered encouragement to others battling cancers of their own to continue to fight.

"He always had a smile on his face," said Fire Chief Phil Gridley, who added, "people will never know how much he contributed to this community.

"He came from a political family. He could have won any office he ran for, but he didn't want that. He never wanted praise or anything. He did his work behind the scenes, and he cared about our community."

Joe McNeal, a leader in the local Democratic party, added that "the city of Mountain Home and the state of Idaho has lost one of its finest citizens and community leaders.

"He put his community ahead of his personal gains," McNeal said.

"Dennis was behind a lot of Mountain Home's success, and its outstanding relationship with Mountain Home AFB. Surely, there's a place in heaven for Dennis."

Wetherell was instrumental in helping save Mountain Home AFB in the early '90s when it faced potential closure, working tirelessly to lobby for the base, both locally and in Washington, D.C.

"Dennis was very proud to be involved with the military community of Mountain Home Air Force Base," his wife, Jill, said. "He made many friends."

The military showed its appreciation with flights in the F-111 and F-15 aircraft and was inducted into the Gunfighter Hall of Fame.

Gov. Dirk Kempthorne, who worked with Wetherell while Kempthorne was a U.S. Senator, was among the many state and local leaders who attended his rosary Monday night. Among his pallbearers was Maj. Gen. Ken Peck, who flew in for the funeral.

Dennis was born Oct. 26, 1946, to Robert Miles and R . Claire (Hart) Wetherell in Boise, Idaho. He graduated from Mountain Home High School in 1965.

He attended Idaho State University for one year and then transferred to Boise State University and graduated in 1971. Dennis served in the Idabo National Guard from 1970 until 1976.

He married Jill Mannion on June 15, 1968. Upon graduation from BSU they moved back to Mountain Home where he was employed in the family title insurance business. In 1994 Dennis purchased Guaranty Title, Inc., from his mother. Dennis was a very active citizen of Mountain Home and the State of Idaho.

He was a member of the Mountain Home Elks, Lions Club, Mountain H ome Legislative Committee, Board of the Elmore Medical Center, Rotary Club, Military Affairs Chairman, Idaho Land Title Association, Chamber of Commerce, Gov. Kempthorne's, transition team, Fourth Judicial District Magistrate Commission, Air Combat Command liason representing Mountain Home Air Force Base, Mountain Home Men's Golf Association, and Boise State Alumni Association.

Dennis was proud to have been a state senator for six weeks in 1996, filling in for his mother, Claire.

"Dennis made friends wherever he traveled," his family noted. "He was a true people person and the life of the party. He loved life and truly lived it to the fullest.

"He loved spending time at the cabin in Featherville, golfing with his buddies, sons and grandson, traveling, entertaining anyone and everyone who came to visit and keeping up with friends."

Wetherell was very family oriented. "His greatest time of all was spent with his grandbabies," his family said. "Dennis will be missed by everyone that entered his life."

Dennis is survived by: his bride of 33 years, Jill; sons Matt Wetherell and his wife, Heidi, and their 3 children, all of Mountain Home, and Mark Wetherell of Boise; his mother, Claire Wetherell of Mountain Home, brothers Michael Wetherell and his wife, Karen, of Boise; Robert Wetherell and his wife, Deborah, of Boise; father-in-law and mother-in-law Bart and Audrey Mannion of Mountain Home; brother-in-law Jim Hermann and his wife, Rita, of Genessee; and sister-in-law Judee Potter of Del Mar, Calif.

"Dennis was very proud of all of his nieces and nephews and kept up on their activities," his family added with pride. He was preceded in death by his father, Robert, and his sister, Ellen Ann Hermann, who also died of cancer.

The family said they wanted "to thank everyone involved with his health care over the past four years, Dr. Paul Montgomery and his staff at the Mountain States Tumor Institue, St. Luke's 2 South; Elmore Medical Center, Dr. Richard Starkey and his staff and associates, Horizon Home Health in Mountain Home and the National Institute of Health, National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, MD.

"We also truly appreciate. everyone's prayers and support during his illness. You helped us get four more years of him. Dennis will surely be missed, but never forgotten."

Memorial contributions may be made to Horizon Home Health, 1310 American Legion Blvd., Mountain Home, Idaho 83647, to Mountain States Tumor Institute, 100 E. Idaho, Boise, Idaho 83712, or a charity of choice.

Vigil services were held Monday, March 18, at Summers Funeral Homes, McMurtrey Chapel in Mountain Home. Funeral mass was held Tuesday, March 19, at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Mountain Home. Arrangements were by Summers Funeral Homes, McMurtrey Chapel, in Mountain Home. A reception following the funeral was held at the Elk's Lodge.