Sally Ann Fusselman
Sally Ann Teter was born Christmas Eve of 1934 to Merle and Meta Teter in Omaha, Nebraska. Her brother, Ronnie was born two years later. When Sally was eight her parents divorced. Sally’s mom went to work for the Union Pacific Railroad and Sally and Ronnie became involved with the Union Pacific Junior Drum and Bugle Corp. Ronnie played the bugle and Sally played the glockenspiel. They would play during halftime when the circus was in town and also in parades. Sally wanted to twirl the baton for them but they said she was too old, but she could be their drum major. They made a special uniform for her to wear and she got to lead the parades.
One afternoon when she was 15, she was practicing her baton twirling when she met Duane,who was moving into the apartment complex. When she looked into those big blue eyes, well, it must have been love at first sight. They dated for about a year and then married on the 22nd of September 1951. Together they raised eight children.
In 1955 they moved to Boise where Duane got a job with the Idaho Statesman Newspaper. Duane worked various jobs during their marriage while Sally was a ‘stay at home’ mom. Around 1967 they bought a couple of laundromats which Sally helped manage. The children remembered stopping there on their way home from school to help clean it and empty the lint traps on the dryers. In 1968 Duane picked up a Book of Mormon at a hotel on a business trip, read it all night, and wanted to learn more. The family was soon meeting with the missionaries and were baptized on June 8, 1968. They embraced the gospel and all it had to offer.
In 1977 Duane and Sally bought the Caldwell City Cab Company and ran it for the next 20 years. It was a 24-7 business. Sally dispatched, drove single ladies to their appointments, and picked up blood from the bus stations to deliver to the hospital, along with other responsibilities. In 1997 they sold the Cab Company and retired to Garden Valley. They became active in their community and Sally began cooking for the Senior Center. In 2004 they moved back to Boise and in 2006 they were called on a 12 month mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to the Alabama Birmingham Mission as family preservation missionaries, preparing and microfilming documents at County Courthouses.
After their mission, Sally began volunteering at the Red Cross. She also crocheted hats which she donated, and made for all her children, their spouses, and grandchildren. Sally loved music, and children. She was an amazing cook. She also supported the local Multiple Sclerosis and participated in their 150 mile bike ride fundraiser more than once. She was loved by all and will be missed.
Sally is survived by seven of her children: David (Cindy) Fusselman of Boise, Cheri Fusselman of Nampa, Debra (Randy) Ragsdale of Eagle, Sally (Steve) Willmore of Nampa, Lucy (Randy) Brede of Nampa, Johnathan Edward (Jodie) Fusselman of Nampa and Michael (Nichole) Fusselman of Nampa; twenty-seven grandchildren, fifty-four great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild; half-sister, Terie Teter Kester, and half-brother, Scott Teter.
She is preceded in death by her parents, brother, Ron Teter, husband, Duane Fusselman, son, Duane Fusselman Junior, and three great grandchildren: Levi and Anthony Brede, and Timber Ruby.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 am, Saturday, August 17, 2024, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 927 Ruth Lane in Nampa, with visitation at the church beginning at 10:00 am. A private family interment will be held at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery.
Arrangements are under the direction of Bowman Funeral Parlor of Garden City.