Jerry Stoicheff, 69

Jerry Stoicheff, 69, passed away Friday, Oct. 1, 2004, in Santa Barbara, Calif. Services will be held Wednesday, Oct. 6 at 1 p.m. at Sandpoint United Methodist Church. Interment will be in Pinecrest Memorial Park. Friends are invited to call at Coffelt's Moon Chapel on Tuesday evening, Oct. 5, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m.

She was born Jerry Louise Dickson in Indianapolis in 1934. When she was a child, her family moved to Texas where she attended a "fresh air school" to treat a lung problem. In high school, she worked on the yearbook, twirled baton, and played bassoon. Jerry was Halloween Queen (something like homecoming queen) her senior year.

She studied English at Sul Ross State College on twirling and bassoon scholarships, and there met the man who became her husband, Jim Stoicheff. After marrying in 1954, she and Jim taught at a series of one- and two-room schools in Washington and Idaho before settling in Sandpoint. There they adopted four children.

Jerry was a stay-at-home mom until her youngest child started kindergarten. Then she returned to teaching. She taught grades K through 5 at various Sandpoint schools for 25 years.

She earned an M.A. in school administration from Whitworth College in Spokane. Jim was an Idaho state legislator for most of the period from 1968 until his death in 1999, and Jerry finished his final term in 2000.

She was active in retired teacher organizations, Democratic politics, a bridge group, and the Sandpoint United Methodist Church. She traveled extensively and particularly enjoyed Africa.

Survivors include four children, James Jr. of Santa Barbara, Calif., Cynthia Gossett of Ely, Nev., Robert of Coeur d'Alene, and Deborah Stoicheff-Welker of Seattle; two sisters, Alice Walters of Muskegon, Mich., and Norma Travis of Georgia; and three grandchildren, Jacqueline Gossett of Nev., and Kahtiana and Ahkailia Stoicheff of Coeur d'Alene.

Funeral arrangements are under the care of Coffelt Funeral Service.