Lola Sarah Balison

Lola Sarah Balison flew to heaven on Jan. 4, 2019. The family is grateful that her suffering with dementia is over.

Lola was born Aug. 7, 1935, to Henry and Margaret Robertson in Davenport, Wash. One of six children, they lived in several different areas until they moved to Idaho in the fall of 1950. There she met Moe Balison and they were soon wed. They celebrated 57 years of marriage before Moe died in 2008.

Lola and Moe loved children and had three daughters, Cheryl, Linda and Colleen. They also had a foster son, Justin Happell, for a short time, with whom they continued to stay in touch. They enjoyed helping raise the grandchildren as they came along.

Lola was a housewife and rancher. Raising three girls, she was always supportive whether it be sports, music or 4-H. She raised a few cows and showed them at the fair for many years. When she wasn’t doing something with the girls or working on the ranch, she enjoyed horseback riding and continued to ride horses until the spring of 2017. In the evening she would sit with the family and knit. As the girls got older, she began to bowl and enjoyed bowling up until the last couple years.

Lola was an active member of the First Baptist Church for many years, where she worked in the nursery for 20-plus years, taught Vacation Bible School and sang in the choir. She taught all the girls her love of music and the four of them often sang specials for the church service. Later, she felt the call to attend the Kootenai Community Church and did so until her death.

Lola was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Moe; and two brothers and a sister. She is survived by a sister, Helen Hegwood; and a brother, Jim Robertson; three daughters, Cheryl Rink, Linda Redmon and Colleen (George) Haley; a foster son, Justin Happell; grandchildren, Matthew Bloom, Amanda Cecil, Colt (Renee) Rink, Shaina Balch, Cord Rink, Farryn (Ethan) Fodge and Hyatt Balch; and great-grandchildren, Landon Balch, Henley Bloom, Kash Cecil, Dallas Cecil, Claira, Rink, Ethan Rink, Nixon Fodge and Dominic Rink.

One of Lola’s passion was raising money for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. This shy, quiet woman was fierce and bold in asking for donations for the St. Jude’s Trail Ride — combining her love of children and horses. In lieu of services and flowers (per her request) the family is planning to raise money and attend the St. Jude’s Trail Ride that is held in June every year. The family is requesting donations in her memory. There is an account on St. Jude’s website set up in memory for her or you can contact the family at 208-290-2633 to make your donation or send it directly to St. Judes marking it in her memory.

Family and friends are invited to sign Lola’s online guest book at coffeltfuneral.com.

Arrangements are under the care of Coffelt Funeral Service of Sandpoint, Idaho.