Lois Beulah Dellinger, 105, of Eagle, Idaho, passed away on December 31, 2024. Lois was born on December 6, 1919, in Larchwood, Iowa, to Harry Ross and Minnie May (Azbill) Gardiner. She was the fourth of nine children. She grew up in a semi-rural farming community near Larchwood where life was busy and fun. She recounted getting her hands in the soil and watching gardens grow along with the chickens, pigs, rabbits, etc. Fruit was picked, canned, and preserved by young and old. Her family provided their own entertainment before TV, email, and all the other electronic devices of today. After supper and the dinner dishes were done, the family gathered around the old piano and warm pot-belly stove. Her mom would play the piano accompanied by her dad on the violin. They would sing some of the fun songs of the day as well as hymns learned at the little white church in the valley.
Her adolescent years were spent in Missouri and Kansas where she graduated from
Hutchinson High School in 1937. She completed junior college at Northwest Nazarene College in Nampa, Idaho, majoring in business. During this time, she served as part-time secretary to Dr. DeLong, President of the college. After graduation she returned to Dodge City, Kansas, where her parents owned Dodge City Business College and joined the staff there along with other members of the family. She met and later married Glen Kuhne in 1941 and they welcomed their first daughter, Glenda Jean, in 1944. After moving to Nampa, their second daughter, Mary Jane, was born in 1947. Her parents had also relocated to Nampa and now owned the Nampa Business College where, again, Lois and other family members were employed. After her parents' death in 1959, she worked for Link's School of Business where she recruited and enrolled students for the next ten years. During this time, she met and married her second husband, Jerry Dellinger, in 1966. They enjoyed 28 years together, during which time they lived in Pocatello and Twin Falls, Idaho. Prior to Jerry's retirement, he was on the athletic staff and public relations for Idaho State University. After Jerry's death in 1988, Lois moved to Boise, Idaho, and co-founded the Gift Gallery in the 8 th Street
Marketplace with her good friend Peg Satterfield. She managed the shop for a number of years until her retirement.
Lois was a long-time member of Boise First Church of the Nazarene and later Boise New Hope Church of the Nazarene. She became a friend, mentor, and minister to those around her. She was known for seeing folks with unspoken needs, imparting a kind word, and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with them. This trait continued with her even into her final days at the assisted living facility where she last resided before going home to be with her Lord and Savior. Lois never forgot to remember the good times and is, no doubt, singing again with all her family in heaven.
Lois was preceded in death by her husband, Jerry, all eight of her siblings, and a grandson, Shawn Luke. Survivors include daughters Glenda McBain of University Place, Washington, and Mary Jane Ford (Mike) of Eagle. She also has four surviving grandchildren, five great grandchildren, and five great-great grandchildren.
Lois's family would like to thank the staff at the Edgewood Spring Creek Eagle Island Assisted Living and Keystone Hospice for taking such good care of her.