Lila Arlene Belden Sweet, 91
Lila Arlene Belden Sweet left the rain to go to the sunshine on June 6, 2012, with her family by her side.
Services will be held June 16, 2012, at 10 a.m. at the Bridgeway Assembly of God Church on Hwy 2. A potluck will follow at the church.
Graveside services for those wishing to attend will be at 2 p.m. at Grand View Cemetery.
Lila “Granny” Arlene Belden Sweet was born on Nov. 11, 1921, in Thorp, Wis., (a place to belong) to Guy Belden and Grace (Howe) Belden. She was the eighth of nine children.
In 1927, at the age of 6 1/2, her family moved to Mission Creek in Copeland, Idaho, where she attended grade school at the old Copeland school.
Her favorite thing to do was play baseball. At the tender age of 16, she quit school to marry the love of her life, Stanley S. (Red) Sweet on Nov. 27, 1937.
She and Red loved to go dancing at the local grange hall where they were married. They lived in the logging camps on Pipe Creek, Rock Creek and the old Ranger Station at Camp Nine, before moving into their new cabin on the north bench where she resided the rest of her life.
They had two children. In 1938 their son Stanley Alec (Skeezix) Sweet was born and then in 1943 their daughter, Etta Mae Sweet Schneurle, was born.
Lila was also a life member of the Busy Bee club, teaching all the family to play bunco. She split fence posts for her new couch and chair for $45. She also skidded logs with a buckskin horse to help make railroad ties for the railroad.
For 20 years she had two Jersey cows she called *#@*- and had a milk route to Moyie Springs. Some people still owed her money, but she would deliver the milk anyway because of the kids. That’s the way she was! She worked for Walt Worley as the chief meat wrapper. She worked more than 20 years at Three Mile corner, then retired. After retirement she went to work at Taft’s until she was 78.
Granny had many favorite things she enjoyed doing. Granny always had a love for bowling, which she started in 1959, when the bowling alley opened. She bowled until the age of 89; winning many trophies and awards and being very proud of beating the men’s team.
Many hours were spent embroidering; she won lots and lots of ribbons at the fair. She made pillowcases for every child, grandchild, great grandchild, and great-great granddaughter.
She was very family-oriented, attending all sports events of her family.
She shopped for those great Black Friday bargains, never missed a rodeo wearing her bull riding jacket, attended all of Sandpoint’s motor cross events.
Branding day was a Mother’s Day tradition with her famous chocolate fudge cake and huckleberry picking, even though she never liked them. She never missed a Sunday breakfast at Three Mile.
Christmas Eve was a family tradition at Granny’s and dishes had to be washed before gifts were opened.
She is survived by her son, Stan (Dolores) Sweet; daughter Etta Mae (Bob) Schnuerle; grandchildren: Cindy (John) Plato, Candy (Greg) Forrester, Ryan (Cece) Schnuerle, Philip Sweet, Rhonda (Gabe) Bandelin, Renee (Pat) Murphy, Rolina Arlene (Jeff) Thaldorf; 21 great-grandchildren, and one great-great granddaughter.
She is preceded in death by her husband Stanley (Red) Sweet in 1971; her parents; four brothers: Guy, Carl, Glen, Hank Belden; four sisters Hazel Stockton, Iva Stockton, Tony Russell, Wanda Harrington; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Family and friends are invited to sign Lila’s book at www.bonnersferryfuneralhome.com are entrusted to the care of Bonners Ferry Funeral Home.