Charlene Sue Schilling

Charlene Sue Schilling, 87, passed away peacefully in her sleep at 4:28 pm on Sunday, October 13, 2019, surrounded by people who loved her and cared for by the loving staff at Valley Vista Care Center, Sandpoint, ID.

She is survived by her husband, Robert of Princeton, ID; sons and daughters-in-law, Steven and Ronda of Little Rock, AR, Mark and Jennifer Beller of Princeton, ID, Mathew and Shelli of Murray, UT; her daughter and son-in-law, Mary and Ted Rydberg of Marana, AZ; her 11 grandchildren-Steven’s children, Sarah Montgomery (Matt), Jennifer Anderson (Neil), Zac Phillips, and Garth Schilling (Janessa); Mark’s children, Amber Liebrandt (Jamie), Anna Huhta (Devin), and Tyler Beller-Schilling; Mary’s children, Jamie Tiller (Joel), Jeremy Rydberg (Danielle), and James Rydberg (Whitney); Mathew’s daughter, Makayla Barton (Cody); 21 great-grandchildren; and her brother David Johnson.  She was predeceased by her daughter, Anna Marie (1960) and her brother, Gordon Johnson (2006).

Charlene was born on the third of August, 1932,  to Einar and Cora (Miller) Johnson at Two Harbors, Lake Co, MN.  Her first home was a one room tar paper shack in a logging camp on the Gunflint trail.  Thereafter, her early years were spent at Beaver Bay.  While she was still young her family moved to the Norton Rd area of Duluth, MN.  While waitressing at the Woodland Park Station she met her forever soul mate, Robert.  When Char was 16, with modified birth certificate in hand, they eloped and were wed on the second of April, 1949.  They shared their love and laughter for 70 years.

Four years and a day after their marriage, while Robert was serving with the US Army in Germany, their first child was born in Denver, CO.  After Bob’s military service they returned to MN where Mark and Mary were born.  They lived in Spokane, WA for a short time and then returned to Hermantown, MN where Anna Marie and Mathew were born.

Char worked as personal assistant to the International Longshoreman’s President for many years in Duluth, until she, Robert, and Mathew moved to Genesee, ID.  There Charlene attended the University of Idaho where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Education.  She taught Business Education at  Lapwai, ID until she retired. 

In addition to being a creative teacher, author, and talented seamstress, Charlene enjoyed horseback riding, cooking, gardening, and canning.  She was famous for her pickled beets, fried bread, baking powder biscuits, and pancakes; her grandchildren would name too many favorites to list.  She was a member of The Cowboy Poets of Idaho and once was a guest and read a selection oh her poems on NPR.

Robert and Charlene spent most of their 70 years together traveling and seeking adventure.  They hunted and fished; visited the National Parks and wilderness areas in the western US; made extensive trips to Canada, Alaska, and Mexico in their 5th wheel; visited Paris, France; Ghana, Africa; and camped through  northern Australia with a tent and 4 wheel drive.

Charlene’s final wishes were to affirm her love of family and have a portion of her ashes spread at Chimney Creek, Nez Perce Co, ID where she and Robert created a family vacation property from a feed shack along the Snake River.  There will be a private ceremony for interment at Genesee City Cemetery, Genesee, Latah Co, ID in the summer.

Charlene will be forever missed and loved.