Robert Wayne Archer

The love of my life, Robert “Rob” Wayne Archer, age 66, passed away July 13, 2025 at the Schneidmiller House in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho due to complications after being cured of cancer.

Rob was born March 16, 1959 to Grant and Sue Archer. He was raised on Wall Peak where he had many adventures with his brothers Ray and Rick, as well as lifelong friends Steve “Jack” Mercado, Darrell Fisher, Joey Meachum, Tobin “Herb” Faraca, and Shane Tetrault.

Because he grew up on the North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River, it’s no surprise that he was an avid fisherman. Rob’s mom taught him to fly fish and his dad taught him to spin fish. The only thing that would bring him home was his mother honking the horn, which meant dinner was ready.

Rob went to Pinehurst Elementary School and Kellogg Junior High, where he played the trumpet in band, as well as playing baseball, football, and basketball. Rob’s dad knew that things didn’t look good for the Bunker Hill Mine and in 1974 he moved his family to Wenatchee and then Othello, Washington. He went kicking and screaming. Little did he know that he would meet a guy named Ted Kudrna, who would become his “brother from another mother” and lifelong friend. He graduated from Othello High School in 1977.

Rob went to college at Gonzaga and Spokane Community College where he earned a degree as a Respiratory Therapist. His first job was at Sacred Heart Hospital before moving to Great Falls, Montana and working at Benefis Hospital. His passions were working in the NICU with newborns and his contribution to the Vermont Oxford Research Study, which allowed him to travel and teach doctors, respiratory therapists, and nurses the benefits of nitrous oxide.

While in Great Falls, Rob met and married Sheryl Whitehead and had one daughter, Tia. After twenty-nine years of marriage, Rob and Sheryl divorced. Rob helped coach Tia’s traveling softball team for many years and enjoyed watching his daughter and her teammates play in tournaments.

After thirty-one years of working at Benefis, Rob became a traveling respiratory therapist at the University of Washington in Seattle. The need for a hip replacement led to his retirement.

In 2016, he moved back to Kingston, Idaho and returned to his love of fishing the North Fork, even teaching his significant other how to fly fish.

Rob wanted to give back to the community where he grew up and did so by helping form The Friends of the River Coalition in 2020. He served as the Vice-President of FORC until the time of his passing. He was also a member of the Kiwanis, and on the Board for the Shoshone Medical Center Foundation.

Rob is survived by his life partner, Susan Finlay, at their home in Kingston; brother Ray Archer (Kathy) of Belgrade, Montana; brother Rick Archer (Dee) of Tampa, Florida; daughter Tia Wooverton (Tyler) of San Antonio, Texas; grandchildren Danica and Maddox Wooverton; numerous nieces and nephews; his adopted parents Bobbie and Kay Finlay; and the cat that adopted us, Mooch Archer. He is preceded in death by his parents, Grant and Sue Archer.

I realized after writing Rob’s obituary, that it in no way encompassed the man that I know and love. Rob was a kind, humorous, loyal, loving, stubborn, supportive, athletic, competitive, and wise man. He loved the Seattle Seahawks and Mariners. He and his brothers had a weekly conference call to make picks for the next week’s NFL games. These weekly calls brought him much joy and bragging rights when he had a winning week. We also spent a lot of time on the deck talking and listening to rock & roll music, one of his favorites being Black Berry Smoke. Health struggles kept him from fishing the last two years, but before he got sick, he fished almost everyday. I know there’s fishing in heaven and I hope Rob gets his limit every time he casts his line. Until we meet again, baby, tight lines.

A celebration of Rob’s life will be held on Saturday, September 27, 2025 at Albert’s Landing. The time will be announced at a later date.