Huckleberries has confirmed with a family member that former three-term Idaho state legislator Jeff Alltus, 61, has died after a five-month bout with colon and liver cancer. Alltus, who represented the old House District 3 B from Hayden from 1994-2000, died Saturday at the Hospice House on Prairie Avenue/Hayden. The family member told Huckleberries that Alltus was able to take his family on a vacation in Hawaii to provide them with some lasting pleasant memories of him. In spring 2000, Alltus decided not to seek a fourth term to the Legislature, telling the media that his son, Ryan, 14 at the time, had asked him to quit. An SR story about his decision said:

"Alltus has made his mark in the House as a Christian conservative and a backer of abortion restrictions and term limits. An insurance agent, he sponsored legislation to change a region-based formula to allow North Idaho residents to get lower health insurance rates and pushed for broad latitude for off-road-vehicle riders and gun enthusiasts. He also advocated a law making divorces harder to obtain." ... The three-term lawmaker said his service in the House has been ``a wonderful experience,'' but the past two sessions have been frustrating. ``Even though you come down here with great aspirations of cutting government, you're one small, little wheel in the big machine, and it's just a difficult thing to do.'' Alltus said he has talked with other social conservatives who also are frustrated. ``We're all kind of standing around, going, `This has not been very fun,''' he said. Alltus' blunt style sometimes has rubbed his fellow lawmakers the wrong way.

A memorial service is scheduled for Candlelight Fellowship on Highway 95/Dalton Avenue on Thursday, June 16.