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Nancy Lynn Johnstun, 65

Nancy Lynn (Hook) Johnstun, our loving wife, mother and Grammy of Weippe, Idaho, passed away Oct. 5, 2017, at Kootenai Health in Coeur d’Alene, after fighting a long courageous battle with cancer. Cancer would never take away her dignity, hope, faith, love or courage.

Nancy was born on Oct. 15, 1951, to Loyd and Phyllis Hook in Cook, Minn. The family then moved to Valley City, N.D., where she was raised. She graduated from Valley City High School in 1969, and then went on to attend The University of North Dakota, home of the Fighting Sioux, where she received her bachelor’s degree in social work.

After graduating college, she moved West after taking a job with the United States Forest Service. She was stationed just outside Pierce, Idaho, on the Austin Ridge Lookout as a fire spotter for several years. While working for the USFS, she met her husband, Jerry Johnstun, and they moved to Weippe together. Shortly after, she became pregnant with their first son, Matthew, and they got married at the Hitching Post in Coeur d’Alene on Feb. 5, 1983. Her son, Matthew, was born that same year in September and then in March 1986, her second son, Kyle, was born. She was very active in her two sons’ lives, and she sacrificed so much for them while they were growing up. She always made it a point to drive herself and her two kids out to North Dakota every summer, where they would have a great time visiting with family and friends.

Nancy was known for her sweet soul, generous spirit and her giving nature. She will be remembered as compassionate, caring and always putting others before herself. She never seemed to complain about her health condition, and always made sure that everyone else was taken care of. Her fighting spirit drove her to never give up.

Her children and grandchildren were the absolute light of her life, and she always wanted them around her. She loved to read them books, do craft projects and make cookies together, among countless other fun activities. The grandchildren brought great joy to her and helped to take her mind off everything she had to go through over the past several years.

Some of her favorite hobbies were listening to audio books, cooking for her family and playing countless hours of card games (especially Crazy Rummy) with the entire extended family. She loved watching her favorite TV shows, yard-saling, thrift shopping and going to the library with her grandkids.

Nancy is survived by her husband, Jerry of Weippe; son Matt (Amanda) of Coeur d’Alene; son Kyle (Jessica) of Lewiston, Idaho; her beautiful grandchildren, Shylei, Jayce, Owen and one to be born in March 2018; mother Phyllis Hook of Valley City; sisters Cyndi (Mike) Malsam of Valley City and Lori (Brian) Heath of Valley City; last but not least, many countless nieces, nephews and close friends. She was preceded in death by her beloved father, Loyd Hook and loving sister, Janel Bzdok.

The family wishes to extend their heartfelt thanks to all the staff at the Kootenai Cancer Center, Kootenai Health Emergency Department and the Kootenai Health Oncology Hospice wing for all of their loving care and compassion.

There will be a memorial service at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017, at the Community Hall in Weippe.

In lieu of flowers, the family wants to request donations can be made to the Kootenai Cancer Center, Kootenai Health Circle of Life Hospice Unit, Coeur d’Alene library or the charity of your choice in her name.