Cheryl Breeden, 56

Cheryl Breeden, 56, an elementary teacher in the Coeur d’Alene School District for 30 years, slipped from her family’s arms Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016, at Hospice House of North Idaho after battling cholangiocarcinoma for more than two-and-a-half years.

Born Cheryl Lee Davenport, in Bismarck, N.D., on Jan. 6, 1960, Cheryl’s family moved to New Leipzig, N.D., where Cheryl attended New Leipzig High School and excelled in all sports, but her favorite was basketball, a love she carried into her adult life as she was a rabid fan of Gonzaga basketball. Her senior year in high school, she traveled to the North Dakota State Track Championships as one of the state’s best spear chuckers, also known by its lesser name, javelin. Cheryl graduated high school in 1978 from a class of 12.

Cheryl loved all animals, but especially horses and dogs and always had to have a dog in spite of her sometimes severe allergic reactions. Growing up, Cheryl had an infamous horse named “Chips” that is still talked about today in North Dakota folklore as not liking anybody but Cheryl. In New Leipzig, Cheryl was always known as a “tomboy,” a badge she wore proudly and spent her summers working in her father, Kenny’s machine/welding shop, Davenport Manufacturing.

Cheryl attended Moorhead State University in Moorhead, Minn., and then transferred to University of Idaho in Moscow where she graduated with degrees in elementary education, special education and physical education. She became the Special Education teacher for Sorenson Elementary in 1986 and worked there for 15 years. She then went to work at Fernan Elementary as a kindergarten teacher and later became a first-grade teacher. Cheryl loved teaching children and loved her students, especially the naughty ones it seemed. Her laughter still echoes through the halls of Fernan today.

In 1990, Cheryl’s special education degree was put to the test when she married Dan Breeden on Aug. 18 on the shores of Cocolalla Lake. Dan contends to this day that he swept her off her feet, but Cheryl would usually describe it as having the rug yanked out from underneath her. Dan and Cheryl enjoyed what Cheryl would call “26 blisterful years” taking numerous trips together including Africa, New Zealand and twice to Alaska. They also took countless rafting trips on the Salmon, Snake, Moyie and Yellowstone rivers and a “trip of a lifetime” on the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon.

Cheryl loved traveling, camping, fly-fishing, rafting, buying fabric (even quilting occasionally), playing with her dog, sitting on the patio and dragonflies.

Cheryl is survived by, and dearly missed by, her husband, Dan (Handy Dandy); sisters Donna Grabenstein of Coeur d’Alene and Judy VanLishout (husband Gene) of Mandan, N.D.; brother Pat Davenport (wife JoDee) of Bismarck, N.D.; mother Gertrude Davenport of Coeur d’Alene; seven nieces and nephews; six great-nieces and nephews; and one very sad dog named Ben.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Lemons of Love (Northwest Chapter), Hospice House of North Idaho or the Humane Society.

There will be a celebration service and reception for Cheryl at 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016, at Yates Funeral Home in Hayden. Yates Funeral Home has been entrusted with the care and cremation. The family asks that attendees wear brightly-colored clothing and bring a story to share about Cheryl.