Tyler was born Oct. 5, 1956, in Pocatello, Idaho, and he passed away from an accident in Arco, Idaho, on Feb. 21, 2010. He lived in Sun Valley, Idaho, with his wife, Patti Felton (Lentz). Tyler did not have children of his own but became the adopted uncle for his friends' children who looked upon him as a big brother, favorite uncle and someone they could always call for help and encouragement. One of the special joys of his life was watching them grow up, go to college and start their own families. He was so very, very proud of them, loved talking to them, and even became a "reverend" when they asked if he would do them the honor of marrying them.
Tyler graduated from Butte County High School, where his passion was playing football. He lettered in indoor and outdoor track, basketball and football, and went on to play football for two more years at Treasure Valley Community College in Ontario, Ore., where he was also class president. After that it was time to explore the world with an opportunity to be a walk-on for the University of Oregon football team (he often said his survival instincts kicked in so he did not play for Oregon). He joined Theta Chi and was on campus when Animal House was filmed there. Tyler graduated from Oregon in 1979 with a lifelong passion for the Ducks and he watched them play in the Rose Bowl this year. He coordinated a revival of the "Ducks in the Snow" event in Sun Valley, which was scheduled for a week after his passing and a scholarship has been set up in his honor with the athletic department.
After graduating from Oregon, he fulfilled one of his lifelong dreams by moving to Alaska and traveling the backcountry working for a CPA firm, Mikunda, Cottrell and Co. He returned to Sun Valley in the 1980s and joined the firm Lallman, Felton, Peterson & Pierce, where he became a partner. Tyler began dating his wife, Patti, in January 1995, just after the Ducks played in their previous Rose Bowl (this was his way of measuring major events in his life).
Tyler lost his father too early in life and always missed sharing the adventures and stories of his life with his dad. His passion and avocation was running the family ranch and farm in Arco and seeing his mom as much as possible. His accomplishments were varied and unusual. He was very proudly the youngest artificial inseminator in Idaho, had a commercial applicator license, was a licensed general contractor, a heavy equipment operator and taxidermist, and was licensed to carry a concealed weapon. One of the nicknames his friends gave him was "McGyver" since he was able to fix anything anywhere and always planned trips with extra gear, warm coats and sweaters, gloves, hand warmers, water, power bars and whatever else he thought his friends would need and usually forgot. He couldn't pass anyone who needed help without checking to see if he could help, people or animals, and was even known to stop and coax a bull snake or two out of the middle of the road.
Besides seeing his friends and mother and going to Ducks games, Tyler was happiest camping and exploring in the mountains of Alaska and Idaho, working toward his goal of the "grand slam" of North American wild sheep (he had two of the four—the Dall and Rocky Mountain bighorn), river rafting on the Middle Fork of the Salmon and the Selway, upland bird hunting in Hepner, Ore., with his beloved German shorthairs, Tuck and Colt, who also had special places on the couch and bed with him every night, backcountry exploring in his Jeep and on ATVs in Moab each year the minute after tax season ended, and snowmobiling on the trails in west Yellowstone and through the park just before the start of tax season. The words of Ernest Hemingway and Ayn Rand struck deep cords within him and he named many of his dogs after characters in Hemingway's books (usually "Jake"). Tyler had a special place in his heart for Yellowstone National Park, the Middle Fork of the Salmon and the Pahsimeroi, and his ashes and the ashes Tuck and Colt will be scattered there after a service in the spring.
Tyler was the glue that held his lifelong friends together and he considered many not only close friends but also his brothers: Skip Tarr, Dave Lofts, John Kilkenny, Jim Hoyt, Tom Pritchard and so many others. Dennis Lallman and his family, Laurel, Ellie and Jeff, and Holly, Jesse, and Ella, became Tyler's second family and they were precious to him.
He is survived by his wife, Patti Felton (Lentz); his mother, Mary Lou Felton of Arco, Idaho; his sister and her husband, Mimi and Shane Rosenkrance, Joshua Felton and Shade Rosenkrance; his nephews, Berett Leigh and Jordan Rosenkrance; his nieces; and his brothers, Lyndon and Layne. His father, Marlyn Felton, and his brother, Bryan Felton, preceded him in death.
His loss is especially heartfelt because he was the caretaker of us all and there was so much he still wanted to do, including taking his wife back to Alaska, his mom to Eugene for a Ducks game, graduating from being a CPA to a rancher and farmer, building his dream home in Montana or Wyoming, finishing his grand slam, seeing the Ducks go to the Rose Bowl again and again and again, and watching his friends' childrens' children grow up so he could teach them the ways of the world. Not much made him happier than showing a child something new, especially if it had to do with animals or was in the wilderness. He liked to think of himself as a tough guy but he had a gentle heart, and while he had a wide and varied collection of "big-boy toys," they were vastly outnumbered by the collection of friends, family and people he touched and took care of in his life and we were all incredibly blessed to have him in our lives.
A private service was held in Arco at the Lost River Funeral Home where Father Paul Wander performed a mass and his ashes were blessed. A community-wide service will be announced in the spring or summer to celebrate Tyler's life. Be sure to hold your loved ones tight and appreciate every moment of life with them. Life really is too short and we will miss Tyler for the rest of ours. He made us all want to be better persons and we love him dearly. He lived his life by the Warrior's Creed: "Wherever I go, everyone is a little bit safer because I am there. Wherever I am, anyone in need has a friend. Whenever I return home, everyone is happy I am there.
In lieu of flowers, contributions are being made in Tyler's name for a scholarship at the University of Oregon Athletic Department, Len Casanova Athletic Center, 2727 Leo Harris Parkway, Eugene, OR 97401, (541) 346-5433.
