'Tookie' Elsie Alberta McLeod Winters, 66
“Tookie” Elsie Alberta McLeod Winters, of Hayden Lake, died Wednesday, March 27, 2013, after a courageous four-year battle of stage four breast cancer.
Tookie was born on Dec. 12, 1946, in Wallace to Donald L. McLeod and Estelle Helfer McLeod.
She grew up in Enaville and graduated from Kellogg High School in 1965. She went on to become an LPN in Missoula, Mont. On Jan. 31, 1970, she married Jim C. Winters. They lived in Conner, Mont., until moving to Hayden Lake in 1975.
Tookie was a member of Shepherd of The Hills Lutheran Church. She enjoyed being part of the Lutheran Womens League Mission at her church. She loved making quilts. She loved her family, especially her loving granddaughter, Darrah. They had many special times together baking cookies and making bread. Tookie loved to sew, crotchet, cook and spend time with friends having coffee! She also loved the outdoors. She loved going camping, going on picnics and sitting around a camp fire! She especially enjoyed road trips to Montana. One of her favorite places to visit was Lake Louise, Canada. She loved the mountains. Tookie had a love for music and she played the accordion.
She is survived by her father, Donald McLeod from Coeur d’Alene. Her sister and brother-in-law, Tinker and Bill Ziemann of Kingston, Idaho. She is also survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Wendy and Dan Ziesmer; and her granddaughter, Darrah “Dee” Ziesmer of Hayden.
She was preceded in death by her son, Jimmy John Winters, who died of SIDS on April 21, 1971. Her mother, Estelle Helfer McLeod on Sept. 2, 1988. Her husband Jim C. Winters on Feb. 8, 1991.
There will be a viewing from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, April 2, 2013, at Yates Funeral Home in Coeur d’Alene. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 3, 2013, at Shepherd of The Hills Lutheran Church in Rathdrum, with a lunch to follow. There will also be a graveside service at 1 p.m. (Montana time) Thursday, April 4, 2013, in Darby, Mont., at Lone Pine Cemetery. Yates Funeral Homes has been entrusted with the care of final arrangements.