Melba Jean Onstott

Melba Jean Onstott passed away suddenly the morning of March 29, 2021, at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, Wash.

Mom was a “Christmas Baby.” She was born Dec. 24, 1945, to Faye (Jones) Fielding and Oran Fielding, in Monahans, Texas. She joined a brother and two sisters, with one more sister joining the family 15 years later.

Growing up, her family moved several times, living in Monahans, Roswell, N.M., Twentynine Palms, Calif., and Durango, Colo.

When she was 15, and living in Durango, she quit school so she could go to work full time to support herself. At the age of 34, married and with four children she went back to night school and got her GED. She later served on the Boundary County School Board. Mom loved to read and learn and always encouraged us kids to further our education one way or another. 

She made so many good friends when she was on her own, and all the time we were growing up there were cards and letters from these friends. As they started to pass away , she would get letters from some of their children.

She met her future husband, Clayton Onstott, in 1960 while she was walking with a friend who wanted to ride in Dad’s car. Four years later they were married on Sept. 21, 1964. They were married for 56 years. 

Their first child, a girl, was born a year later and three boys followed over the next 7 years.

They left Durango in 1971 and moved to Bonners Ferry. Dad had gone to high school here and had family living close by. Mom missed her family, but soon adapted and made more, good, lifelong friends.

She enjoyed her flowers in the summer and good books all the time. Mom also had a creative side that she liked using in everyday situations like wrapping presents, making cards, sewing, crocheting, and cooking. She was always doing something for someone, which seemed to bring her the most happiness. She always liked to help.

She also had her own personal fan club. It is made up of seven individuals, Tim, Tom, Tony, Jake, Katie, Lauren and Lindsey, who loved her for her kindness, fun times, caring heart and creativity. Whether it be making sure there were treats for every occasion or bubbles for everyone to blow, or an extra lap to sit on, or a confidant, someone to color with, or read with, she was that special someone.

She is survived by her daughter, Darla, and husband Craig Amoth (Bonners Ferry, Idaho); sons, Brad Onstott (Peyton, Colorado), Scott, and wife Ann (DesRoches) Onstott (Bonners Ferry), and Brett Onstott (Bonners Ferry); grandchildren, Tim Onstott, Thomas and wife Kirsty (Myers) Amoth, Tony and wife Zaonna (Seely) Onstott, Jacob Onstott, Katie Onstott, Lauren Onstott and Lindsey Onstott; sisters Edna and Michael Demos (Durango, Colo.), Ramona Sowa (Lafayette, Colo.); and a brother Oran and wife Liz Hudspeth (Chaparral, N.M.); a brother-in-law, Tom Conway (Bayfield, Colo.); a brother-in-law, Eldridge “Sonny” and wife Anne (Holt) Onstott (Post Falls, Idaho); and a sister-in-law Carol (Onstott) and husband Gerald “Bucky” Bennett; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Those preceding her in death were her husband, her parents, one sister; and three sisters-in-law.