Aleda Irene Kenyon, 96
Aleda Irene Kenyon, 96, of Sandpoint, Idaho, died at Valley Vista Retirement Center on Sunday, Aug. 8, 2010.
Family will unite to remember her in Yountville, Calif., where she will be laid to rest beside her husband, Elbert.
Irene was born Nov. 6, 1913, in Fairfield, Calif. She was the daughter of Hannah Olivia Carlson of Goteborg, Sweden, who came alone by ship from Sweden at age 18 and returned home once before her death. John Conrad Carlson of Kansas was her father. She lived most of her life in Napa, Calif.
At age 18 she married Elbert Lewis Kenyon. Together they ran Kenyon’s Building Supply until Elbert’s untimely death in 1956. She continued to run the business for a time following his death.
About 1976, she moved to Sandpoint to help care for her granddaughters while her daughter and son-in-law, Carol and Bill Truby, ran their business.
Irene could always be found in her garden with her wide-brimmed hat; if she was not working she was resting there in her chair. One time a bear came walking by while she was outside. She was a very hard worker.
She worked at Truby’s for years preparing carrots for juicing and vacuuming every day. She would also pick up supplies for Bill and Carol.
In Napa she would arrange flowers from her garden for Church. In Sandpoint she was involved in the Seventh-day Adventist Church Dorcas Society and spent time visiting shut-ins and making quilts.
Irene drove until she was 92 years old with several episodes of flat tires. She would not wait for family to help but would independently hitch hike to town from Trestle Creek. Several times deer ran into the side of her car on the way to town.
During her life she would recall childhood memories of moving on a train with a cow and nine chickens. Her seat was on the chicken crate.
During the 1918 plague in Sweden, her father’s father went through the house burning sulfur to cleanse it.
There are also very good memories of a cabin at Redwood Creek, Calif., where the family would gather together.
Irene is survived by her two children, Russell Kenyon of Corning, Calif., and Carol Truby of Sandpoint; seven grandchildren, Merise Heatherington of Sonoma, Calif., Cathy Jones of New Salem, Mass., Kerri Birdsong and Elizabeth Crockett, both of Bremerton, Wash., Kevin Kenyon of California, Valerie Dressel of Sandpoint and Rosalie Alexander of Spirit Lake, Idaho; six great-grandchildren, Michelle, Stephanie, Eric, Cecelia, Christian and Braedon; a sister, Helen Wakefield Neely; a niece, Bonnie Medel; great-nieces, Lindsay and Carli; a nephew, Tim Wakefield; and a great-nephew Steven.
We will miss our wonderful mother, grandmother, sister and auntie.
Family and friends are invited to sign Aleda’s online guest book at www.coffeltfuneral.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Coffelt Funeral Service.