Suzanne Rickel, 82
Suzanne Rickel, 82, of Bayview, Idaho, passed away May 18, 2016, at her home surrounded by family. Born July 23, 1933, in Pecan Gap, Texas, she lived in Yakima and Seattle, Wash., and moved to North Idaho in 1966.
She was married to Robert (Bob) H. Rickel of Athol, Idaho, in 1971. Bob and Suzanne farmed the Rickel Ranch together for more than 40 years and built their house on Lake Pend Oreille in 1978.
Spending her life serving others, Suzanne was very active in the Athol and Bayview communities. She was a 4-H leader for many years, and an active member in EE-DAH-HAW Gardening Club of Bayview, BAB and the Bayview Community Council.
She was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and served as a Stevens Minister.
She was very active in the National Rural Electric Association at the local and national level, and started a youth organization for Kootenai Electric in Idaho. Additionally, she was instrumental in obtaining funding and support for Children’s Village in Coeur d’Alene.
A gifted gardener, she maintained a beautiful yard covered throughout the year with beautiful flowers. The community loved to come by in the spring to see the thousands of tulips and daffodils that she lovingly planted each fall in anticipation of the burst of color that announced spring had arrived. She recently started studying Ikebana, reflecting her love for beautiful flower arrangements and Japanese art.
A talented hostess, she loved to entertain friends and family at her lovely home on Lake Pend Oreille. Her home on the lake was her oasis and the place she treasured.
Bob and Suzanne loved to travel and were fortunate to travel to places like Germany, Australia and the Panama Canal.
She is survived by her loving husband, Robert Rickel; two brothers, Gleyn and Joanne Bledsoe of Redmond, Wash., and George Bledsoe of Burbank, Wash.; four children, Gwynn and Kevin Barnes (deceased) of Spokane, Wash., Wayne Wakefield of Spokane, Cynthia and Warren Beyer of Bayview, and Debbie and Mike Donaldson of Kildeer, Ill.; three stepsons, Robert Rickel of Athol, Ken and Cathy Rickel of Athol, and Randy Rickel of Dickinson, N.D.; 11 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 22, 2016, at Trinity Lutheran Church with viewing at 1:30 p.m., prior to the funeral service.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Children’s Village of Coeur d’Alene, 1350 W. Hanley Ave., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814, http://www.thechildrensvillage.org or Trinity Lutheran Church, 812 N. Fifth St., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814, http://www.trinitylutheran-cda.org.
She will be greatly missed by her family and the community.