Evelyn Marie Dinning, 93

Evelyn Marie Huff Dinning passed away Sept. 10, 2023, at Boundary Community Hospital at the age of 93.

Evelyn was born on Dec. 20, 1929, in Edgemont, S.D. She was the oldest of four children born to Doris (Coates) and James “Walter” Huff. In 1934, when Evelyn was 5 years old, her parents, baby brother Jim and Grandma Emma Huff, moved from South Dakota because of the drought and the depression. They landed in the Copeland area of Boundary County, where other family members had moved to earlier. After a few years, her father became manager of the Copeland Co-operative, and her mother was the postmistress, which were all housed in the same building. A brother, Harold, arrived in 1937, and a sister, Margie, in 1945. They later bought a farm in the Deer Park area.

Evelyn attended the Copeland School and then graduated from Bonners Ferry High School in 1948. She worked at the First National Bank until she married Leighton Dinning on June 19, 1949. They moved to Porthill and then to a small farm near Leighton’s parents. In 1958, they moved to a larger farm in the valley. Leighton also commuted to Bonners Ferry to work at the sawmill, and in 1968, decided that one job was enough, so they moved back to Bonners Ferry.

Their four children were all born in Creston, British Columbia, because it was closer than the hospital in Bonners Ferry. Merle in 1950, Walter in 1953, and the twins, Nancy and Neil, in 1955.

In their 55 years of marriage, they loved traveling, camping and fishing together. She was always there for her family and helped out in many ways, hosted many family gatherings and baby-sat grandchildren, all done with an open heart, hands and pocketbook when needed.

Evelyn was an active member of the Mt. Hall Presbyterian Church and later the United Methodist Church in Bonners Ferry. She was a gardener, sewed quilts, knitted, and later purchased a knitting machine, which she spent hours at. She played cards with a group of women, and Pinocle and Yahtzee were regularly played around the dining room table. She golfed in the women’s league for many summers. Over the years, she was a 4-H leader, helped at the county fair, and raised, showed and sold Shar Pei breed dogs. She was a busy woman until she had to slow down. She moved into the Restorium as her health declined.

She is now having a reunion with many family members, which include her parents; her husband, Leighton; her brothers, Jim and Harold; her son, Merle; and her son-in-law, Robert Venard. No more responsibilities, just joy!

She is survived by her son, Walter and wife Gerry; daughter Nancy Wycoff and husband Larry; son Neil and wife Pat; and daughter-in-law Carole; five grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren; her sister, Margie; and four sisters-in-law, grandchildren-in-law, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, at the United Methodist Church in Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Memorials are suggested to the Friends of the Restorium or Bonners Ferry United Methodist Church.

To leave a message or memory for the family, go to www.bonnersferryfuneralhome.com. Bonners Ferry Funeral Home is caring for the family.