Monday, August 16, 2021
We first met Althea at her father’s funeral in 1973 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Eden. She had an easy-going sense of humor and when she and Harry moved back to Jerome from Brush, Colorado, in 1975, we were so happy that they would be members of Trinity congregation again.
Althea loved to sing the hymns of the church. Vicki and I were privileged to sing in the choir with her and Harry in Eden and later at Peace Lutheran Church in Filer. Her alto voice and wonderful pitch made the hymns all the more beautiful and spiritually uplifting. One of her favorites (actually, they were all her favorites!) was “Abide With Me.”
These verses bring back memories of singing with her:
“Abide with me, fast falls the eventide.
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.”
“Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies.
Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.”
She loved to hear the Bible read out loud. It was a great comfort to her, especially in these recent years.
When we moved from Eden to work in Baja California, Mexico, Althea and Harry helped us pack everything we owned into a 22-foot Ryder Truck, and then invited us to spend our last night at their home in Jerome. Two years later, when I was invited back to the Magic Valley to tell the story of my work with the Lutheran Baja California Mission, she and
Harry took me in for the weekend where I enjoyed the delicious meals she always prepared and we laughed a lot during those days!
Several years ago, Vicki and I had 37 “active” apricot trees and each August our harvest was overwhelming. Althea looked forward to fresh apricots every year! I remember watching her split the ‘cot and sending it to her tastebuds!
Althea’s craftsmanship in sewing, knitting and crocheting are widely known and appreciated. She knitted beautiful sweaters for Vicki and me. Vicki still wears hers, but I, sadly, “outgrew” mine.
We have missed visiting Althea and singing with her, praying with her and reading God’s Word with her this past year and a half of COVID-19. We miss her laugh, and how she enjoyed good jokes and stories.
She was always interested in our children’s lives and asked about what they were doing. When they were young, she gave them little toys to take home.
Althea loved Jesus, and Jesus loved her. And He has brought her to Himself now to continue her eternal life near Him. We will miss her and we ask God’s blessings of comfort, good memories, and peaceful thoughts of her heavenly home life upon all her family and friends. We especially remember her son, Ken and his wife, Tammy, and her daughter, Marla; and her grandchildren: Amber and her husband, Conor, and Ryan and Joshua; and her great grandchildren, Autumn and Jonah.
Thank You, dear Savior, for this Your dear child, Althea, and for the faith You gave her and which
She freely shared with all. She is Your baptized and confirmed one with whom You walked all her life and on through the valley of the shadow of death-and she feared no evil. Our thanks to You, our loving God.
We won’t be able to join you at St Paul’s for the service, but will be with you through the live streaming service. We are still not comfortable with the risk of crowds, but we look forward to a time soon when we can sit with you and share great memories of this good friend, your Mom!
Our love to you all.
Pastor Gary and Vicki Benedix
