Mr. Cramer, who died Tuesday, was born in Missoula. He lived in Idaho and Montana and graduated from Great Falls (Montana) High School in 1941. He married Joan Verwolf in 1949. In 1940, he began working for the U. S. Forest Service. He became a smoke jumper in 1941 and later worked at the Aerial Fire Depot in Missoula. He fought fires in South Dakota, Montana, Washington, Oregon, California, New Mexico, Alaska and Idaho.
He was a foreman for the New Mexico smoke jumpers. In 1966, he moved to Alaska and was in charge of the Alaskan smoke jumping program. He retired from the Bureau of Land Management in 1973. He then moved to Sandpoint where he drove school buses for the Bonner County School District for 16 years.
Mr. Cramer was a member of the Church of God and served as chairman of its board. He was also a former member of the Moose Lodge, the Eagles Aerie, the Masonic Lodge, the Gideons, and the National Rifle Association of America.
Survivors include his wife, Joan Cramer, at the home; five sons, Ronald Cramer of Anchorage, Alaska, Gary Cramer of Olympia, Bob Cramer of Priest River, Mike Cramer and Allan Cramer, both of Sandpoint; his mother, Johanna Cramer of Polson, Montana; two brothers, Robert Cramer of Great Falls and John Cramer of Polson; and nine grandsons.
Mr. Cramer, who died Tuesday, was born in Missoula. He lived in Idaho and Montana and graduated from Great Falls (Montana) High School in 1941. He married Joan Verwolf in 1949. In 1940, he began working for the U. S. Forest Service. He became a smoke jumper in 1941 and later worked at the Aerial Fire Depot in Missoula. He fought fires in South Dakota, Montana, Washington, Oregon, California, New Mexico, Alaska and Idaho.
He was a foreman for the New Mexico smoke jumpers. In 1966, he moved to Alaska and was in charge of the Alaskan smoke jumping program. He retired from the Bureau of Land Management in 1973. He then moved to Sandpoint where he drove school buses for the Bonner County School District for 16 years.
Mr. Cramer was a member of the Church of God and served as chairman of its board. He was also a former member of the Moose Lodge, the Eagles Aerie, the Masonic Lodge, the Gideons, and the National Rifle Association of America.
Survivors include his wife, Joan Cramer, at the home; five sons, Ronald Cramer of Anchorage, Alaska, Gary Cramer of Olympia, Bob Cramer of Priest River, Mike Cramer and Allan Cramer, both of Sandpoint; his mother, Johanna Cramer of Polson, Montana; two brothers, Robert Cramer of Great Falls and John Cramer of Polson; and nine grandsons.
Gravesite Details
Ashes were spread at the hunting camp up the North Fork River above Prichard and a memorial was placed at the grave site of his daughter, Selia Marie Cramer, in Missoula City Cemetery.
Family Members
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