Wesley Earl Portrey

September 13, 2023

Wesley Earl Portrey, 74, passed away September 9, 2023, surrounded by his family. Viewing will be held from 2 to 7 p.m. Friday, September 15, at Bonners Ferry Funeral Home, 6485 Harrison Street. Funeral Services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, September 16, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1512 Alderson Lane, Bonners Ferry, with a viewing prior to the service at noon.

Wesley was a native of Bonners Ferry, born to Clyde Wayne Portrey and Bertha Ina (Watkins) Portrey on March 19, 1949. He attended Bonners Ferry High School, from which he graduated in 1970. In July 1970, Wes joined the Navy and went to boot camp in San Diego. He was stationed in Pacific Beach, Washington, Port Hueneme, California, and San Diego, California, during his four years of service. He became a Seabee and achieved the rank of 3rd Class Petty Officer (E4).

Wesley was honorably discharged from the Navy in July 1974 and traveled from San Diego to Provo, Utah. He and his fiancé, Randa Lee Baum, were married on July 14, 1974 in Provo. They moved back to Bonners Ferry in 1977, where they became parents of four children. Wes and Randa divorced in October, 2000. He then married Christine Louise Benson on August 13, 2001.

We spent his life working at the sawmill in Bonners Ferry. He joined the South Boundary Fire Department in 1993 and remained a loyal volunteer fireman until his health prevented his participation. Two weeks before his death, the SBFPD awarded him the Fireman of the Century award for 30 years of faithful service. Receiving the award was among one of his most cherished events in his life.

Wesley is survived by two daughters, Tamera (Bret) Wengeler and Nicole Portrey, two sons, Shane and Adam (Alyssa) Portrey, two stepsons, Jesse and Daniel Gondek, as well as nine grandchildren; Ashton Wesley, Ashton Ryan, Kiara, Ezra, and Lexus Portrey, Elijah and Christian Jurado, and Devon and Paxton Wengeler. He is also survived by his brothers David, Terry, Randy, and Steven Portrey. He was preceded in death his twin brother, Leslie Irvin, his parents, and his foster parents, Jay and Jo Jeppesen.