Neil Finger

Neil Amos Finger, 44 years, eight months, and 24 days, of Highmore, passed away at home, with his parents at his side.

A memorial service will be held on August 17, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Hansen Park Building of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Kennewick, WA, for Neil Finger, who passed away in Highmore. Burial will be at the Bohemian National Cemetery in Hyde County, SD.

Neil Amos Finger was born August 14, 1979, in Kennewick, WA. He was the fourth child, and only boy, of David and Ilene Finger of Highmore.  He grew up in Kennewick, WA, and graduated from Kamiakin High School. He was very active in wrestling, pole vault, javelin, cross country, cheerleading, and in choir in both school and church. He played Little League, was a gymnast through middle school, and sang in several musicals. As he was growing up, he loved being involved in scouting and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.

He attended Ricks College in Rexburg, ID, for one year, before serving an honorable mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Frankfurt, Germany, for two years. He loved the German people and made lifelong friends. He spoke and sang in German fluently. Neil went back to Ricks College and graduated with a major in International Communications and a minor in Business. While there, he was a cheerleader, on the wrestling and track teams, was a lifeguard, and served on the Student Council during the transition from being a two-year school to becoming BYU-Idaho. He was in charge of the school cutover from collegiate sports to a vastly expanded intra-mural sports program, from setting up the teams and coaches to scheduling and staffing.

During and after college, he worked in pest control and lawn care, had many interests and was an entrepreneur, owning his own lawn care and scrap metal business. He learned taxidermy and did beautiful, detailed work with wild game. He was an internet car salesman and opened his own cheer gym, where he excelled as a coach and choreographer and also helped choreograph the cheer routines for the Portland Trail Blazers cheer team.

He loved to work with wood, especially exotic wood, making gorgeous tables and countertops, as well as picture frames, cutting boards, coasters, and signs. He played intra-mural men’s and co-ed softball for years, transitioning into umpiring when injuries interfered with playing. He became a well-respected umpire, being requested at many state and regional tournaments.

He loved to be a part of the outdoors and went on many hunting and fishing expeditions with his father, uncles, cousins, sisters, nieces, and nephews throughout his life, along with his faithful camping and fishing buddies, Scrap and Breezy, his loving Australian Shepherds.

He was an inspiration to his seven sisters and loved all of his 17 nieces and nephews. He accomplished a lot in his short time on this earth and will be missed, but his family knows he is with his two older sisters, Sarah Ruth Finger and Naomi DeAnn Finger, and lots of family with our loving Heavenly Father.

He is survived by his parents of Highmore; five sisters: Brenda Bishop of Boise, ID; Crystal (Rich) Koker of Spangle, WA; Melissa Kelly of Ammon, ID; Maria (Joey) Licht of Kennewick, WA and Solema (Dustin) Juerling of Prosser, WA; as well as many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Luze Funeral Home of Highmore has been entrusted with Neil’s arrangements.