No headline

Laurie Ellsworth Dillman, 88

Laurie Ellsworth Dillman, of Hayden, Idaho, passed away Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, from causes incident to age. He was 88.

Laurie was born in Douglas, Ariz., on Feb. 16, 1930, to Lorin and Maria Dillman. He had three sisters and one brother: Glenyce (Poulson), Tanya (Jones), Esther (Olpin) and Joseph. He married Joyce Cecele Wood on Oct. 1, 1951, in the Salt Lake City Temple.

Laurie graduated from Brigham Young University in 1957 with a bachelor’s degree in education and later earned his MBA from the University of Oklahoma. Upon graduation from BYU, he received a commission as an officer in the U.S. Air Force. He enjoyed more than 20 years in the military, much of that time flying the B-52 and C-130, and residing in such places as Texas, Florida, North Dakota, Puerto Rico, Oklahoma, Kansas and England.

Upon his retirement as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1975, the family settled in North Idaho where Laurie taught world geography at Lakeland Junior High School in Rathdrum, Idaho. He was loved by his students for bringing his real-life experiences from around the world into the classroom, and was recognized as Teacher of the Year.

Laurie was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. In 1949, he was called to serve in the Northwest States Mission, serving for a time in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. In 1987, he served a full-time mission with his wife, Joyce, in the Washington, D.C., Temple Visitor Center, and later served another mission in the Spokane LDS Employment Center. Together they served for 25 years as temple ordinance workers, Laurie being a sealer in the Spokane Temple since its dedication in 1999.

Laurie was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce, who passed away only two months earlier in June, and their daughter, Cynthia Jean Luthi, in 1999. He is survived by two sons, Jim (Debby) of Hayden and Rob (Jamie) of Cedar Hills, Utah; son-in-law, Frank Luthi, of Murray, Utah; 11 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Laurie will be remembered for his many years of devoted service to his country, community and faith.

A viewing will be held from 9 to 10:45 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018, with the funeral immediately following at 11 a.m. Services will be at the Hayden LDS Chapel, 407 E. Honeysuckle Ave., Hayden, ID, 83835. Burial will be at Coeur d’Alene Memorial Gardens.

Yates Funeral Homes has been entrusted with the care of final arrangements. Please visit Laurie’s memorial and sign his online guest book www.yatesfuneralhomes.com