Teddie M. (Banka) Huggins, 53

Teddie M. (Banka) Huggins, 53 went to be with the Lord on April 11, 2007 at Deaconess Medical Center after a long extensive battle with Cancer. She was born in Sandpoint, Idaho on June 10, 1953 to Robert and Odessa Banka. She lived in Sandpoint most of her childhood. That is where she met her soul mate Wally Huggins. They had moved to Whitefish, Mont., with their daughter, Randi where they lived for a few years and had a son, Shane in 1970.

Later the family moved to Alaska where they worked and lived, off and on for several years. In 1977, the longing to have a place to come home to became a necessity, and they purchased the property in Moyie Springs. Lots of sweat and tears went into that place Teddie loved so much. She and Wally worked long hours to completely develop the property for a home site by bringing in water, power and a road.

Teddie worked many different jobs. She drove a pilot car, worked as a teller and loan officer in a couple of different banks and was a ticket agent for an airline. Her most accomplished and satisfying work that she did was work as a case worker with the Department of Health and Welfare in Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Teddie touched many peoples lives with her compassion for their situation and fairness that made her a success in this field.Teddie never longed much for material things she always said a home is where you can hang your hat. She was just happy as long as we were healthy and had each other. She loved hunting, fishing, picking huckleberries, and long drives around her favorite mountain, Queen Mtn. Teddie made many accomplishments in her life, but one that she was so proud of was when she was drawn for a moose permit and shot her bull moose in 1992.

Teddie is preceded in death by her father, Robert Banka, mother Odessa Dawson, step-father Emmett Dawson, brother In-law Gary Lucas and an infant son. Left to remember Teddie are her loving husband Wally; son Shane (Tawnya) Huggins; daughter Randi Flory (Rob), all of Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Teddie was very proud of her five grandchildren, Nicholas and Britany Huggins, Tyler, Krystal and Colton Flory, all of Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Teddie also has five sisters and two brothers: Bobbie Lucas, Linda (Ron) Collison of Sandpoint, Idaho; Judy (Paul) Lucas of Soldotna, Alaska; Kay (Coy) Kraatz of Junction City, Ore; Marion Strandy of Airways Heights, Wash.; Edward (Wilma) Banka of Okinawa, Japan; and Ron (Debi) Banka of Spokane, Wash.

Our family will miss her dearly. She was a wonderful daughter, sister, wife, mother and friend. We feel very blessed by having her the short time we did, but are grateful for her strong belief in the Lord, and we have peace knowing He is taking care of her until we meet again.