Irene E. Dunn

Irene E. Dunn, 87, passed away in Sandpoint, ID on Sunday, April 15, 2007. Memorial Services will be held 1:00 PM, Monday, April 23, 2007, at the Clark Fork United Methodist Church in Clark Fork, Idaho. Irene was born December 22, 1919, in Neligh, Nebraska, to Orville and Myrtle Coulthard. The family moved to North Idaho in the fall of 1936; her father, mother and three girls: Ruth, Irene and Lois. Irene graduated from Hope High School in 1938 and then attended National Youth Administration. After finishing NYA she worked for a number of families in Spokane, Washington as a house keeper/nanny. She married Purley R. Bennett in July of 1941. They lived on a dairy farm on the Rathdrum Prairie and later moved to Dalton Gardens. During their marriage four children were born; Carole, Philip, Tom and Susan. Irene was involved in many activities with her family including school activities, cub scouts, campfire girls, swimming lessons, raising a garden, cooking, canning, personal activities and spending quality time with friends and relatives. In August 1959, while on a family vacation to Yellowstone Park, disaster struck. The Montana earthquake claimed the lives of her husband and three of her children. She and her son Phil were the only members of the family that survived. Irene loved children and always wanted to be a teacher. After the earthquake she decided to go to college and pursue her desire to become a teacher. She attended North Idaho Junior College starting in 1960 and received her AA Degree in Education. She continued her education by attending the University of Idaho during the summer sessions and received her BA degree. June 17, 1962, she married John M. (Jack) Dunn, her high school sweetheart. She moved to Hope, Idaho to begin a new life with her new husband. This was a Marriage that was meant to be, as they were real soul mates. Irene was hired by the Bonner County School District in the summer of 1962 and began her teaching career. She taught third and fourth grade, and sometimes fifth and sixth at Clark Fork Elementary for fifteen years and later did substitute teaching at both Clark Fork and Hope Elementary. Irene always had a desire to write a book about the earthquake, her family, and continuing life after her loss. She joined the Writers League to aid in improving her writing skills. After many tears, she finished her book “Out of the Night” and it was published in 1998. It is a story of tragedy and hope from a survivor. Irene was a member of the United Methodist Church in Clark Fork, Idaho. She enjoyed helping with activities involving the church. She was also involved in Delta Kappa Gamma, Idaho Writers league, Hope Cemetery Committee and Hope Scholarship Fund. She is survived by her husband John M. Dunn of Hope, ID; her son Philip and (Robin) Bennett of Kent, WA; three granddaughters Riann and (Scott Haman of Buckley, WA; Amy and (Samson) Manson of Graham, WA; Lindsay and (Tony) Airington of Orting, WA; seven great-grandchildren: Kade, Wyatt, Archer, Lucas, Gilliam, Kennedy and Blythe Lois Burkhard, and many other relatives.