Helen Maxine Willet

Helen M. Willet, 88, of Fruitland formally of New Plymouth went home to our Lord on August 9, 2015 at her home at Edgewood in Fruitland. A viewing for family and friends will be held on Thursday August 13, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at the Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel in New Plymouth. Funeral services will be held on Friday, August 14 at 11:00am at Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel in New Plymouth. Burial will follow at Park View Cemetery, New Plymouth. A potluck will follow burial at the VFW Hall down town New Plymouth. Condolences may be made to the family at www.shaffer-jensenchapel.com.

Mom was born January 27, 1927 to Ben and Edith Lidolph in Adams, Nebraska. She attended school in Adams and graduated from Filley, Nebraska in 1944. She received her teaching certificate and taught for 3 years in a one room country school house. She married Kenneth Willet on May 19, 1946 and began their farming career. Mom and Dad had 4 children, Donald, Gene, Susan and Debbie. They farmed on several farms in Nebraska until 1964 when they moved the family to New Plymouth, Idaho where they farmed over 300 acres and raised hogs. Mom was voted Farm Bureau Wife of the year for Idaho in 1982. She lost Dad later that year and eventually sold the farm and retired to Fruitland where she had a home that over looked the river. She loved living there as she could watch all of the wildlife while sitting in her recliner. Mom was a very talented woman. She sewed all of our clothes while we were growing up, did many oil paintings for family and friends, made quilts and knitted sweaters. But her greatest talent was her ability to listen to people and understand the difficulties or problems they were experiencing. Her home was always open to anyone and a cup of coffee and shoulder were always offered. Mom worked in the flowers at the Payette County Fair for several years and served for many years on the election team for precinct #7.

Eventually it became too much for Mom to live on her own so she moved to Springcreek Edgewood in Fruitland. Mom absolutely loved living there. The staff and facilities were wonderful. They treated her like a family member and she looked upon them as her extended family. During her final hours she had a continuous line of staff just stopping by to tell her how much they loved her.

Mom is survived by her children sons Donald (Dorothy) Willet of Camano Island, Washington, Gene (Eva) Willet New Plymouth, Idaho, foster son Richard Snell of Seattle, Washington, daughter Susan Heitz of Payette, Idaho. Grandchildren Dr. Gene Willet of Berea Ohio, Rod Willet of Fruitland, Idaho, Chris Willet (Lesli) of Weiser, Idaho, Angie Mora (Fred) of Caldwell, Idaho, Wendy (Andrew) Craig, Camano Island, Washington, Katrina Willet of Camano Island, Washington, Robin Smith of Oregon, Christina (Bill) of Wyoming, Joe Salsgiver of Wyoming, 13 great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband Kenny, parents Ben and Edith, brother Wayne Lidolph, sister Toby Siefkas, daughter Debbie Nelson, daughter-in-law Arlene Snell, grandchildren Danielle Heitz and Juan Jose Mora.

The family would like to thank the staff at Springcreek Edgewood for the love and support that they showed to Mom during her stay with them. They made her stay with them a very happy experience for her. We also would like to thank Heart n Home Hospice for their continuing support and help during her final days.

Memorials may be made to the Susan B. Koman breast cancer foundation c/o Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, PO Box 730, Payette, Idaho 83661.