Carlyn VanDenbur; Clara Hornbeck; Judith LeBoeuf; Lucky Hester

Carlyn Dorothy (Kennedy) VanDenburg, 63, Bigfork, Mont.

Carlyn Dorothy (Kennedy) VanDenburg, a young 63, died of cancer on Earth Day, April 22, 2013, at her home in Bigfork, Mont., surrounded by her loving sons, family members and close friend, RMaya. She was born on April 30, 1949, the daughter of Angus and Dorothy Kennedy, in Grangeville, Idaho.

She attended school all 12 years in Grangeville, graduating in 1967. She married James H. VanDenburg on Jan. 26, 1968, and moved with him to Florida, but they yearned for the Pacific Northwest and the mountains, lakes and rivers that they loved, so they soon returned to live in Columbia Falls, Mont., where Jim worked for the U.S. Forest Service on the Flathead National Forest, and Carlyn worked for a local bank and for several health care professionals in Kalispell and Bigfork. Jim and Carlyn had three sons, Barton, Jeb and Colby. They later moved to the Swan Lake Ranger Station in Bigfork and in 1983, built a home outside of town with majestic picture-window views of the Jewel Basin and Swan Mountains that she said “gave to her every day.”

Carlyn was a strong, vibrant woman with a playful spirit that made her the favorite with children wherever she went. She was a devoted mother and considered mothering her three boys and then being a grandmother the most fulfilling roles of her lifetime. She was a deeply spiritual mystic who was dedicated to her spiritual quest. She had the courage of her convictions and lived her life according to her beliefs. She inspired others all along the way with her intellect, wit, perception and loving kindness. She was a woman of many talents and interests, demonstrated in the way she decorated her beautiful home, in her writing, her art and her skill as a cook. She was an inveterate outdoorswoman who loved camping and hiking in her beloved mountains and swimming in Montana’s icy lakes. She loved a good book, a good song, a good poem and beautiful art, and was an enthusiastic dancer as well as a discerning literary critic. She was a champion leg wrestler and not afraid to prove it! She would beat you at Boggle, Hell or Scrabble every time. She was also known for daredevil fun (especially after a few sips of whiskey) like hijacking the boys’ Big Wheels with her friend Linda, and riding them at breakneck shrieking speed down the mountain trail at the ranger station until the wheels wore off. She had a special affinity for Ireland and Scotland and all things Celtic and appreciated the opportunity to spend time in those countries with her spiritual group. She was looking forward to traveling to Scotland this spring with her special friends, Jan and John. It was no accident that she worked in the health and wellness industry because her care was always to help others. She loved her work these past years at Flathead Physical Therapy using her healing hands and heart to help those in pain. It’s difficult for all of us who knew and loved her to believe that she is gone because she had such joie de vivre. She lived every moment that she was alive. There is a huge hole in our lives where she should be.  

She had a rich, strong marriage with her husband, Jim, and was devastated by his sudden death of a brain hemorrhage in 2010. She had not recovered from that grief when she was diagnosed with the cancer that finally conquered her body, as it could not conquer her spirit. She was especially proud and appreciative of her sons, and treasured them for their unfailing support after their dad’s death and for their tender caregiving during her illness. She used the last weeks before her death to console us and teach us how to die. 

 She is survived and remembered with love by her sons, Barton (Amy), Shingle Springs, Calif.; Jeb (Jacque), Hamilton, Mont.; and Colby (Sheryl), Littleton, Colo.; her sister, Dawn Kennedy-Haeder (Dewey), Grangeville, Idaho; her brother, Clinton Kennedy (Marlene), Cascade, Idaho; six grandchildren, Ashley, Spencer, Josephine, Logan, Olivia, and Finley; nephews and nieces that she claimed as her “first children,” Daren Fales, Melanie Fales, Cinda Bodell, and Jason Fales; nieces and nephew, Tara, Erin, and Conor Kennedy; and a large extended family of aunts, cousins, and friends whom she considered family.

She was amazed by and grateful for her many wonderful friends who took it upon themselves to be sure she had help every day for the past year and a half, many traveling great distances to be there for her when family members could not be, and for the Hospice nurses and workers who eased her last days.     

A celebration of Carlyn’s life was Saturday, April 27, at the Swan River Community Hall, Highway 83 and Echo Lake Road. Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

 

Judith Mae LeBoeuf, 91, Nampa, Idaho

Our wonderful, loving, Godly mother, Judith LeBoeuf, 91, passed away on April 22, 2013, surrounded by her loving daughters and family.

A viewing was held for family and friends on Friday, April 26, from 5–7 p.m. at Alsip Funeral Chapel. A funeral service to honor and celebrate her life was held at Alsip & Persons Funeral Chapel Saturday, April 27, at 2 p.m. A private burial was held at the VA cemetery on Monday, April 29, at 9 a.m.

Judy loved to paint; loved beautiful flowers and most of all loved her Lord Jesus Christ. She studied the Bible and was determined daily to “live out her faith.” She taught us all about loving others and to always believe the best. She had a powerful prayer life. All her children and grandchildren knew that they needed to be on her prayer lists, because when she said she would pray, she would!

Judy was born in Payette, Idaho, May 8, 1921, to Ellen May and Noah Irwin. She grew up in New Meadows, Idaho, and graduated from Grangeville High School in 1939. She graduated from Kinman Business College in Spokane, Wash., with a degree in business.

She married the love of her life, Eugene LeBoeuf, in 1941 and they celebrated 65 years of marriage. In 1946 they moved to Riggins, Idaho where Gene was the first elected mayor of Riggins and they owned the Golden Rule Store. They lived for a few years both in Craigmont and Grangeville, and settled for a time in Nampa, Idaho, in 1974.

They both went to work for Nampa Christian Schools and Judy became the bookkeeper. They served together there for 11 years and in 1985 were given the “Most Distinguished Service Award” in grateful appreciation for loyal devotion and dedicated service to Nampa Christian Schools. 

They retired and moved to Grand Junction, Colo., for five years and moved back to Nampa in 1990 to be close to their son, Jim, who was diagnosed with cancer.

Mom and Dad attended and faithfully served in their church at Nampa First Church. Mom loved her Bible study group and their prayer group that they had in their home and the wonderful teaching and fellowship she received at her church at Nampa First Church. After Dad died she lived with her daughters, Sunday Wesche and Susie Underwood, in Eagle, Alaska, and Spokane.

Judy was preceded in death by her parents, Ellen May and Noah Irwin; her husband, Gene LeBoeuf; and infant son, Mark; son, Eugene James LeBoeuf; grandson, Luke LeBoeuf; and son, Richard LeBoeuf. 

Surviving family members include a daughter, Sunday R.Wesche and husband, Bud from Eagle, Idaho; and a daughter, Susan Underwood and husband, Perry from Spokane, Wash.; and daughters-in-law, Ronna LeBoeuf, and Helen LeBoeuf; eight grandchildren,  Rick (Andi) LeBoeuf, Tami (Jay) Thomson, Randi (Jon) Garrett, Johnny Wesche, Annie Wesche, Amy (Joel) Peters, Christy (Cody) Kerr , Levi Underwood and Lindsey Smalley; 12 great-grandchildren, Justin, Kailey, Sydney, Madison and Benjamin LeBoeuf, Melissa Thomson, Tyler and Logan Garrett, Elizabeth and Jeriah Peters and Tristan and Jonah Smalley.

Memorial donations may be made in honor of Judy LeBoeuf to Nampa First Church of the Nazarene or to Nampa Christian Schools.

 

Clara Hornbeck, 78, Lewiston, Idaho

In spite of the cancer that invaded her body Clara was able to pass peacefully away in the comfort of her own home in Lewiston on the afternoon of April 26, 2013. She was born to James and Mary Crews in Columbus, Ga., on June 25, 1934, and was the fourth of eight children. She was raised in the small rural town of Fortson.

War has a way of separating families and the Korean War did this to Clara. Not only did this engagement take the life of her brother, Buddy; it also put in her midst a young soldier with a wandering eye that spotted her working as a waitress in a café near Fort Benning where he was stationed. For the first six months of his pursuit of her, she thought his last name was “Cornpeck.” Having a sense that his intentions were growing stronger and fearing a lifelong existence with such a foul label she sought refuge with an aunt far to the north. Little did she know that Terrence Hornbeck was from Michigan and tracking her down was made much easier close to home.  They were married July 9, 1952, in Columbus and despite Clara’s dislike for cold her “soldier boy” would land her in wind-blown and always chilly Craigmont as their first home in Idaho.

Clara was only seeking warmth as a woman often does but she ended up with a brood instead. Shirley, Troy and Steve divided all her attention and focused all her mothering instincts as they grew to adulthood in Grangeville. As was common in the ‘60s, women were entering the workforce and Clara was among them. A brief stint as a nurse’s aide was followed by lengthy employment at Howard’s IGA. From there she moved to their meat processing plant where she acquired advanced skills to prepare her to handle the many wild game carcasses her youngest would deliver to the door. With a few additional turns in her career path, she would arrive at the position of which she was most proud. Bob Waite appointed Clara as deputy auditor for Idaho County and she served in this capacity throughout his tenure.

Summer was the season Clara enjoyed most during her life in Idaho. It was finally warm! Many evenings were spent on local rivers with picnic dinners and family swims. She always looked forward to the annual trip to Red River Hot Springs; packing the family in the Edsel for the thrilling trip up the winding dirt road dodging logging trucks through clouds of dust along the way. Without fail it seemed she always had to attempt to make friends with a mother moose when we reached the meadows. As fall would near, most of the local bears would leave the mountains. When the huckleberries ripened they were simply making way for the master picker. In addition to her prowess on the mountain, Clara was also a threat on the lanes. Many years she was the top or among the top lady bowlers in the local area. Clara also had a high level of respect for education. She dedicated herself to the task of obtaining her G.E.D. late in life and no head was held higher as she crossed the stage to receive her certificate in a ceremony at Lewis Clark State College.

She would lose her soldier “Cornpeck” in the early winter of 1983 and filled portions of her remaining 30 years with Robert McKee from Hemmet, Calif., until his death in 2004. Loren Schussman shared the last four years of our mother’s life. In his words, “All I wanted in return was to see that beautiful smile.” He found it most often on the dance floors they shared.

Clara is survived by her daughter, Shirley (Jack); and son, Steve (Paula); brother, Roy of Georgia; and sister, Margaret Ann of North Carolina. She was preceded in death by her first-born, Terry who never escaped her memory; husband, Terry; and son, Troy.

A viewing will be conducted at Vassar-Rawls in Lewiston from 12-6 p.m. on both Thursday and Friday. Graveside services will be held at Prairie View Cemetery in Grangeville May 4, at 11 a.m. A gathering in her memory will follow. In lieu of flowers please make contributions to the Veterans of Foreign Wars or the Disabled American Veterans organization.

 

Lucille G. Hester, 88, Riggins, Idaho

Lucille G. Hester, 88, Riggins, Idaho, died April 27, 2013, at her home. A memorial service was held on Tuesday, April 30, at the Salmon River Community Church in Riggins. Arrangements were by Boise Funeral Home, Aclesa Chapel.