Craig DeSilvia

Craig was born June 17, 1939 in Pensacola, Florida to Wanda Harriet (McCormick) and Ernest Roselle DeSilvia. He was raised in the south and in 1957 graduated from Murray High School in Jackson, Mississippi. In high school, he was active in football and track, excelling in the 440 and winning the state championship his senior year.

He was offered several track scholarships at southern universities, but decided to attend the University of Montana to study forestry. While there, he was awarded a track scholarship and competed for 4 years. During his college years, he spent 4 summers as a smokejumper out of McCall, Idaho and parachuted to fires in all western states. In 1962, he received his B.S. in Business Administration and due to 2 years of ROTC, was offered a regular Army commission as a 2nd Lieutenant and spent 2 years in the infantry at Fort Benning, Georgia. That same year, he married Donna Manley and in 1964, they welcomed their son Todd.

Craig's first job out of the service was for Burroughs Corporation selling computers. After 9 months, he returned to McCall for one final, fifth summer of fun as a smokejumper. In 1965, he joined Boise Cascade Corporation as a programmer trainee, where he steadily advanced through roles of increasing responsibility, ultimately retiring in 1997 as Manager of Corporate Data Processing Services. While working for Boise Cascade, he earned his MBA from Boise State University. The company also sponsored his continued education at Harvard University, where he graduated from the Program for Management Development.

As well as working for Boise Cascade, Craig had a passion for real estate investment. He developed three commercial buildings, which he leased to local businesses.

He cherished summers at his cabin on Flathead Lake in Montana, where he spent his time golfing, boating, reading, enjoying the company of friends, and savoring good wine. His love for the cabin ran so deep that when he married Becky Poulson in 1993, they chose to hold their ceremony there by the lake. In 2010, he planted a cherry orchard which he painstakingly cultivated and managed. After retiring, he enjoyed traveling each year with his loving wife, Becky, to Hawaii, especially Maui, and the Caribbean with a special fondness for Grand Cayman. They also enjoyed traveling, cruising, and renting villas with friends throughout Europe and Asia. An avid golfer, he relished playing courses around Boise, as well as in other states, Canada, and Europe. He also competed in tournaments sanctioned by the Pacific Seniors Golf Association and took part annually in the McCall Amateur.

Craig was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Sandra DeSilvia Kennerson. He is survived by his wife, Becky, son Todd (Michelle), stepson Matt Kaufman, grandchildren Austin (Caleigh), Cole and Claire DeSilvia, great granddaughter Ella, and nieces Heather Kennerson and Paige Montague.