Linda (Cheri) Thibault

Cheri Thibault passed away on April 17, 2021, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, at Hospice House, after a short, but valiant battle with lymphoma.

She was born on September 13, 1945, in Thomasville, Georgia, to Bob and Mae Critchley. Cheri grew up at Lake Tahoe, California. During the summers, she worked at Sandy Beach, a resort that her parents managed, and where her dad was also the post master for many years.

In 1963, Cheri graduated from Tahoe Truckee High School, and briefly attended the California College of Arts & Crafts in Berkeley, before returning to Sandy Beach, where she met Dennis (Denny) Thibault. They married on September 17, 1965, in Denver. After living in Denver, Phoenix, and Lake Tahoe, Cheri and Denny relocated to Clark Fork, Idaho, in August of 1976, where their children were raised, and each graduated from Clark Fork High School. Cheri moved to Sandpoint in 1990, following the end of her marriage with Denny. After purchasing a house in town, she continued planting beautiful vegetable gardens, flowers, fruit trees, in-door plants, and doting on her cherished pets.

Cheri worked many years as a draftsperson and office assistant for area land surveying companies. She was employed by McMillan Surveying, Glahe & Associates, and Ruen-Yeager & Associates, where she retired in 2015. Upon retirement, Cheri’s interest in gardening, arts, crafts, and carved woodwork, kept her busy and active seven days a week, until the onset of her illness this spring.

Cheri is survived by her two sisters, Karen (Dave) Britton, and Kathy (Gary) Baum; her four children, Dennis (Bonnie) Thibault, Bobby (Melissa) Thibault, Jenny (Alan) Archer, and Katrina Thibault; and two cousins, Tricia Mikkelsen and Leslie Graham. She leaves behind four grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. There is no doubt that she is now working happily in Heaven’s gardens, while she awaits the arrival of her dog and two cats, Tucker, Abby, and Jack. She was preceded in death by her parents, Bob and Mae Critchley; as well as aunts, uncles, and a great-nephew.

Mom, we, and everyone who knew you well, will always remember your strong will, generosity (especially when it came to your kids and donating to charities), spirit of independence, the convictions you stood by, and your beautiful smile. All these qualities made you the unique and wonderful person you’ve have always been. We will forever love and miss you!

We would like to thank the medical professionals and staff with Bonner County EMS, Selkirk Fire, Bonner General Health, Life Care of Sandpoint, Kootenai Medical Center, and Hospice House. You all did the best you could to treat Mom, care for her, and keep her comfortable until it was time for her to leave this Earth.

English Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements. A family celebration of life is planned for some time in June. While no formal services will be held, those who knew Cheri are invited to sign her guestbook. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation in her memory be made to either Hospice of North Idaho, your local food bank, or local animal shelter.