Edith Mary Frazier Poelstra

Edith Mary Frazier Poelstra

Edith Mary Frazier Poelstra passed away peacefully at the age of 94 on Feb. 16, 2020, at Boundary County Hospital. She was born May 14, 1925, in Glade, Kansas, the youngest of eight children to Wesley and Blanche Pruitt. After the devastating effects of the “dust bowl” in 1933, Wesley and Blanche decided to load up their car with kids and their very few possessions, and drove to Bonners Ferry, Idaho, to farm property on the North Bench.

Upon graduating from Bonners Ferry High School, Edith joined her sister, Myrna, in Seattle, to learn welding in order to work in the shipyards during the war. It was during this time that she met and married a soldier named Bruce Frazier. They were married 41 years, and together they had three daughters: Vickie (Bud) Sennott, Gayle (Bob) Sweeney, and Julie (Larry) Davidson.

Edith and Bruce eventually moved to Bonners Ferry to a small farm near Edith’s parents’ farm on the North Bench. Edith worked various jobs outside the home as secretary for the Moyie Mill and later for many years as secretary for Bonners Ferry High School before “retiring.” She then returned to work part time at the Forest Service. Even while working, she still made time for sewing doll clothes, school clothes, Prom dresses, and wedding dresses for her daughters. She knitted and crocheted baby and afghan blankets for every grandchild.

Edith was an outstanding bowler and brought home numerous trophies that decorated the fireplace mantel. She also took up painting, which provided her an outlet for her creativity. Upon final retirement Edith learned to play golf, enjoyed short trips with friends, and longer trips to Europe and Alaska with family. She enjoyed music, reading, puzzles, many card games, and was a strong competitor at Scrabble.

Moving to Sandpoint, Edith married Cornie Poelstra in 1989, and for 20 years they enjoyed bowling, fishing trips, and watching Mariners baseball together. After Cornie’s passing, she resided at Luther Park before moving back home to Bonners Ferry to live out her final years at the Boundary County Community Restorium.

Edith was a very kind, content, and fun person to be around. She laughed easily and was loved and enjoyed by all those who came to know her. She was preceded in death by her parents, her siblings, and son-in-law Tom Vinion. Surviving her are all three daughters and their husbands along with eight grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren.

There are not enough words to describe how thankful Edith’s family is for the outstanding love and care she received from the Restorium and Boundary County Hospital.

A celebration of Edith’s life will be held in the spring with details to follow.