Jill Ann Robinson, 66

Jill Ann Robinson, 66, passed away Friday, Dec. 11, 2009, at Kootenai Medical Center in Coeur d’Alene.

Funeral Services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18, at Bonners Ferry Funeral Home.

Jill was born Sept. 18, 1943, in Williston, N.D., to Merriam and Elmer Afseth.

Jill later moved to Red Lake Falls, Minn., and attended a Catholic elementary school.

In 1956, she moved to Bonners Ferry, assisting her parents in operating the Rex Theatre while attending Valley View Elementary School. Jill graduated from Bonners Ferry High School in 1961.

She married Rod Robinson on June 17, 1961. To this union a son, James Steven, was born on Jan. 7, 1963, and a daughter, Karen L., on May 5, 1967.

The Robinsons purchased Windmill body shop from Emil Smith in late fall 1969; this was Jill’s home until her death.

Divorce eminent, she enrolled in nurse's training at North Idaho College in the summer of 1980.  She graduated as a registered nurse in the spring of 1983 and went to work at Bonner General Hospital in Sandpoint.

Jill then worked for Boundary Community Hospital in home health department, beginning in about 1988.

Jill helped her grandparents with medical issues in their later years and their daily life beginning in about 1992 until their death.

Through financial necessity to pay for their care, Jill turned their home into Selkirk View Home, an assisted living facility for elderly and terminally ill patients in 1998. She operated the home until spring of 2009.

Jill loved cooking but took a special interest in it the last few years. She had three copies of every cookbook ever printed and spent most of her waking hours listening to the food network. Jill had every kitchen gadget available.

She played lead guitar and sang in a local country band on weekends from 1983 through 1992.

Jill’s life was made complete on Nov. 6, 2002 when her grandson, Gage, was born. Gage was the highlight of her life. She looked forward to her weekly "granny" visits and patterned her entire life around them.

Things that meant a lot to Jill were her children and grandson first and foremost. husband/relationship, her parents and grandparents, her friends and acquaintances, and her town, Bonners Ferry, Boundary County.

This was her “home.”

Jill also loved dogs, holidays, family get-togethers, Christmas, Thanksgiving, family reunions, helping Dad with the body shop, camping, cooking, gardening, canning, sewing, music, home improvement projects, swimming pool, yard and landscaping and entertaining.

Jill was preceded in death by her parents, sister Judy, niece Heidi and a thousand aunts and uncles.

She is survived by her son Jim, daughter Karen, grandson Gage and dog Maggi.

Family and friends may sign Jill’s book at www.bonnersferryfuneralhome.com.

Bonners Ferry Funeral Home is handling arrangements.