Bonnie Blain, 76

Bonnie Darlene Blain (Stiner) (Wells), 76, of Airway Heights, Wash., passed away Wednesday, April 4, 2012, at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center. Bonnie was born May 21, 1935, in Coeur d’Alene to Joseph Franklin and Clora May Wells.

She was the last surviving child and youngest in birth order out of a family of five. Bonnie lived in Coeur d’Alene as a child and then moved to Escondido, Calif., where she would bake bread and sell the loaves throughout the neighborhood to help her family make ends meet. She later moved back to Coeur d’Alene where she walked seven miles to school on top of the frozen Lake Coeur d’Alene in the winter.

Bonnie left home at age 17 to marry Lewis Edward Stiner in 1952. They divorced in 1958. Bonnie’s greatest accomplishment in her lifetime where the births of her six children whom she stayed at home to raise. Bonnie was married to James Ellis Blain in August 1972. They were married for 35 years until his death in 2007.

She resided in Spokane with four of her children, Michelle Stiner, Tommy Joe Stiner, Karen Stiner and Bruce Stiner. Bonnie traveled to Colorado, Germany, California, Oregon, Texas and Idaho with her husband and children. After her children were grown she went over the road long haul with her husband James and was able to complete her journey of visiting all states but four.

She loved being creative with her hands and enjoyed making ceramics, painting pictures, cake decorating and putting together models. She was greatly loved and will forever be missed.

Bonnie is survived by five of her six children, Gaylin Stiner, Melvin Stiner, Tommy Joe Stiner, Karen Ruiz and Bruce Stiner; 18 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren. Her daughter, Michelle Stiner, was laid to rest Jan. 26, 2011.

The funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, April 13, 2012, at Heritage Funeral Home in Spokane. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery, Coeur d’Alene, with Yates Funeral Home in care of the arrangements. You may visit Bonnie’s memorial and sign her online guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.