Untitled Document

Youmans, DeFrehn, Trefen and Dixon
added to ITD Fallen Worker Memorial

Four names have been added to the ITD Fallen Worker Memorial, the result of district input and continued research (along with input from department oldtimers and retirees). The names were vetted through ITD's Senior Safety Team in early June. After hearing the available specifics of each case, the committee decided to add the four names to the Fallen Worker Memorial.

The memorial now consists of 38 names of former workewrs who died while still "on the job" with the department - not just on the payroll or a weekend casualty at home.

Ken Youmans, 1979
Kenneth M. Youmans, 56, of Coeur d’Alene, died of a massive heart attack while touring the district to say goodbye before retiring. Youmans was foreman of the district’s Special Crew. Youmans was born in Kellogg, served in the Navy during WWII, and had been employed by the State Highway Department since 1946.

John DeFrehn, 1980
John E. DeFrehn, 64, of Dalton Gardens, a watchman/dispatcher at the Coeur d’Alene district, died at work overnight on Feb. 1, 1980.

The Shop foreman found DeFrehn dead of a heart attack when he came to work that morning. He worked for the state for about 10 years after retiring from the U.S. Army after 28 years. His highest military rank was Master Sergeant.

Donald Trefen, 1983
Hiram Donald Trefren, 46, of Eagle, died Oct. 26, 1983 in Boise. He had a heart attack at work, his co-workers in the ITD Shop revived him, but he was pronounced dead at the local Boise hospital. He was born in Boise, graduated from Boise High School, and worked for the State Highway Department for 10 years in District 3.

Chris Dixon, 2004
Herbert “Chris” Dixon, of Rupert, died March 8, 2004 of a massive heart attack at the ITD Rupert maintenance shed. He had worked for the Idaho Transportation Department in the Plummer maintenance shed in north Idaho for several years before transferring to the Rupert shed. Chris was born and raised in Ashton and went to school there, then moved to Rupert to work for the county before relocating to Plummer.