There will be an official announcement later but it is my understanding that the memorial service will be at St. Paul's Church in Helena Montana on Friday March 27 at 1:30 pm with a reception at the airport afterwards. I will be there.

I wanted to share a few memories of Sparky and hope others will do the same.

I remember the very first time I talked to Sparky in August of 1999. I called him to order his Mountain Flying Bible. I was a student pilot but new that eventually I wanted to be a mountain pilot and land at back country airstrips. I remember him telling me I was already a mountain pilot since I lived in Salt Lake City. When the book came a few days later it was signed with a short note that said "Wishing you blue skies, tail winds and safe flying!" Can you imagine the excitement I felt as a student pilot when the famous Sparky Imeson took the time to talk to me and he called me a mountain pilot and he signed my book? Very excited. That book is battered and worn and I now have a newer addition but I will never give up my first copy. It is the text that taught me to fly. I learned the answers to test questions from other books but Sparky's discussions about flying are what really made sense to me.

I remember the first time I flew with him. He was traveling to give a lecture to Utah Back Country Pilots but was temporarily without an airplane. I was one of the two lucky pilots that got to give him a ride between Jackson Hole and Salt Lake City. It was a great flight, we talked about mountain flying safety and practiced a few techniques while flying through the mountains between SLC and JAC. He took lots of pictures and I think I later saw one of them on his website.

I remember the first time he stayed with my wife and I at our house. In the morning instead of talking about flying we talked about food and a few days later an autographed copy of his cook book arrived in the mail. Until the book arrived I had no idea he had authored a cook book.

I remember the first time I worried that Sparky may have died in a plane crash and the tears of relief and joy when I learned he had be found alive.

Sparky was a good friend and I learned a lot from him over the years. I will miss him.

Sparky, Wishing you blue skies, tail winds and safe flying in your heavenly journeys.