Gladys J. Babcock, 87

Gladys J. Babcock, 87

Longtime resident of Post Falls, Idaho, Gladys J. Babcock passed on to her eternal Heavenly home on May 15, 2017. Gladys was born Jan. 14, 1930, in Butte County, S.D., the ninth of 14 children of William and Ella (Helmer) Wendt. She grew up in the Belle Fourche, S.D., area and graduated from Belle Fourche High School. Gladys then went to work for the phone company.

A young guy by the name of George Babcock moved to the area with his son, Clyde, and met Gladys through some of her brothers — and the lifelong romance began. They were married in Belle Fourche on Nov. 15, 1952. After residing there awhile, they headed to Idaho, now a family of four, eventually settling on a small acreage west of Post Falls where their family became complete.

Gladys enjoyed her vegetable and flower gardens and caring for their farm animals. Gladys and George were members of the Nazarene Church, though had also attended the McGuire-Wesleyan Church in Post Falls and the Starr Road Baptist Church in Otis Orchards, Wash. At one time, she participated with a group of neighbor ladies known as the “Eager Beavers.”

Gladys was preceded in death by one infant son; her son, Mark; her parents, five sisters and seven brothers.

She is survived by her husband, George; sons Clyde, Steve and Ben; brother Jack (Carol); sisters-in-law Mary, Pauline and Linda; 10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

These last years, she and George were lovingly cared for by the staff at Guardian Angel Homes in Post Falls.

A viewing will be held at noon Monday, May 22, 2017, at Yates Funeral Home, Coeur d’Alene Chapel, 744 N. Fourth St., Coeur d’Alene, with her funeral following at 1 p.m. A private burial will take place at Fairmont Memorial Park in Spokane, Wash.

Please visit Gladys’ online memorial and sign her guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.