Irvina "Rusty" Tolbert

Rusty (Irvina) Tolbert, 80 of Sagle passed away peacefully early on Thanksgiving morning, November 28, 2013 at Life Care. She is now in the loving arms of Jesus and is reunited with her son, Kelly in heaven above. The family warmly invites all who knew her to a memorial service at 11:00AM on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013 at Coffelt Funeral Chapel, 109 N. Division in Sandpoint. Rusty was born on March 10, 1933 in Upland, CA the daughter of Walter and Opal Withrow. She was raised in California and graduated Orange High School in Orange County, California. She worked a variety of jobs while raising her children as a single parent. She met her partner, Clyde Shoopman and together they spent 10 summers building a home in Garfield Bay. In about 1988 they moved to Garfield Bay and ran C & R Grocery for a number of years. After selling the store they purchased Anchor Gas and Boat Storage which they have operated together. The two of them have been the heart and soul of Garfield Bay since moving here. Rusty struggled with health issues and was in and out of Bonner General Hospital for years battling COPD and Diabetes. She was blessed to have so many wonderful doctors, nurses and friends. She was loved and will be missed greatly. She leaves behind her partner of 40 years, Clyde Shoopman; daughter Keely Henderson; granddaughter: Linsey (Gregg) Gow; grandson: Zackary Wright; cousins: Larry and Mary Thompson; and step-sister Sandra Smith. She was preceded in death by her beloved son Kelly Tolbert in 1986. In the Spring when the weather again turns beautiful a celebration of her life will be held in her beloved Garfield Bay.