Caroline Rose 'Cal' Pluid, 85

Caroline Rose “Cal” Pluid, 85, passed away at Boundary Community Hospital In Bonners Ferry, Aug. 27, 2014, the same day as her husband Charles T. Pluid, 19 years earlier.

Services were held at Free Methodist Church on Sept. 2, 2014, at 11 a.m. with Pastor Lowell Carlson officiating.

Cal was born on July 29,1929, in Bowman, N.D., to Martin and Rose (Ehrmantrout) Bennett. The Bennett family moved to Boundary County in a Model A car after the Dust Bowl forced them to move.

Along with some of their neighbors, they each purchased 40 acres of North Bench land and were known later as the “Prairie Chickens.”

On that land she lived in a log house her dad built. The house is still there.

Cal attended Northside grade school September 1935 where her early social life centered around the North Bench Grange Hall. Later, Cal would walk to town by the Old Tibbs Road to go dancing. She graduated in 1947 from Bonners Ferry High School.

On Jan. 4,1948, Cal married Everett Knox in Bonners Ferry and moved to Clarkston, Wash., where they had three daughters, Carol Ann, Sandy and Helen. She was very active in Camp Fire girls and the Council with them.

Everett and Cal moved back to Bonners Ferry in 1966 and divorced in 1967, shortly after her son Mike was born, she wed Charles T. Pluid, on Aug. 31, 1967.

They met while she was working at Deep Creek restaurant. They bought property near her parents’ homestead on the North Bench. She and Charlie enjoyed many years gardening and canning their own crops.

Cal had a greenhouse that she loved to spend time in and the cellar was always full for the winter. The vegetable garden and flowers were beautiful and sharing that with her grandchildren, family and friends made herso happy.

In 1998, the home became too much for her to keep up with so she moved to the Sunrise Court in town. Cal spent lots of time crafting with plastic canvas, making afghans and spending time with her grandchildren and friends. She was also a member of BCH Auxiliary.

In May 20l3 she was moved in to the Restorium where she continued to play Pinochle with a handful of friends. Cal will be remembered for her wonderful cooking, her flowers, love and generosity to her family. The whole family will miss her but find comfort in faith knowing she is in a much better place.

Caroline is survived by her three daughters; Carol Ann Knox of Kent, Wash.; Sandra K. Mace of Yuma, Ariz.; Helen L. Kidney of Spokane, Wash. one son; Mike Pluid of Bonners Ferry; a stepson; Robert T. Pluid of Movie Springs, Idaho; a stepdaughter; Janetta L. Dudley of Colstrip, Mont.; two sisters, lone Spalding of Bonners Ferry and Myrna Payne of Sandpoint, Idaho; 21 grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren and a handful of great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Martin and Rose Bennett; husband Charlie Pluid; and brothers Lyle Bennett, Duane Bennett and Geo Bennett.

Any donations or memorials can be sent to the Free Methodist Church in Bonners Ferry, Idaho or The Frends of the Restorium.

Family and friends are invited to sign Cal’s book at www.bonnersferryfuneralhome.com

Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Bonners Ferry Funeral Home.