Arla Mae (Burns) Fenner, 74

On March 20, 2020, our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and aunt passed away peacefully at the Schneidmiller Hospice House in Coeur d’Alene, with her husband and children at her side. She was 74 years old.

Arla was born Nov. 19, 1945, in Philip, S.D., to Robert and Elizabeth (Thiemann) Burns.

In the 1950s the family moved to Lead, S.D. She met the love of her life, Jim Fenner, in 1961, and they united in marriage on Sept. 10, 1962. To this union was born five children.

Those honored to have been a part of her life were her husband, James “Jim” D. Fenner, of 57 years; children Robert “Bob” Fenner of Hayden, William “Bill” Fenner and his wife, Amber of Albuquerque, N.M., Beth Ann (Fenner) Peterson and her husband, Joe of Williston, N.D., Bradley-Bryan Fenner (born and passed on April 7, 1967), Becky (Fenner) Leighton and her husband, Chuck of Hayden; nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren who are sprinkled through Idaho, Washington and New Mexico; her brother, Robert “Bob” Burns of Lead and sister, Carol St. Michel and her husband, Ronnie of Atlanta, Ga.; sister-in-law, LaVerna Fenner and her late husband, Phil of Packwood, Wash.; brother-in-law, Jerry Fenner of Red Bluff, Calif.; sister-in-law, Patricia “Pat” Fenner of Santa Barbara, Calif.; and our extended families: Connie Kelly and her late husband, Jack, and their family, and Diana Meyers.

She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings Janice Mahaney, Roma Denman and Johnny Burns.

In 1966 they moved to Renton, Wash. Jim worked construction while Arla was a stay-at-home mother. In 1969 the family moved to Coeur d’Alene, where Jim went to work at Sunshine Mine in Kellogg.

Arla attended Lead High School, completed her GED in 1981 and attended North Idaho College in the mid ‘80s. She worked at the Iron Horse Restaurant, then Profs Coffee Shop in Buttery’s Shopping Mall for several years. They bought a home in 1972 where she raised four children while managing swimming lessons, Little League and Boy Scouts. She had a great love for family, loved cooking and had a sharp, 5 p.m. dinner time. On very special occasions, we were all treated to a dinner out at a restaurant. One of her absolute joys and a fond family memory is when she’d make buttery popcorn and fill a large brown paper bag to the brim for a family drive-in movie night.

She became an avid bowler with a 170+/- average and was the treasurer for more than 30 years. She met many great friends with the same love of bowling, joining many tournaments over the years. Arla liked to travel in her early years and loved babies, pets, chocolate, camping and logic puzzles. Her joy of riding motorcycles and snowmobiles became the butt of many jokes with all her efforts to remain on the road. Her endless sense of humor and wit will be cherished memories for family and friends forever.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Schneidmiller House — Hospice of North Idaho.

Services will be held at a later date.

Yates Funeral Home has been entrusted with the care of final arrangements. Please visit Arla’s online memorial at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com and sign her guest book.