Erma Louise Ferguson

Our beloved mother and grandmother, Erma Louise Ferguson, 92, passed away at her home in Hope, Idaho on Friday, August 16, 2019 with family at her side.

Erma was born in New Philadelphia, Ohio on July 19, 1927, the daughter of Samuel and Louise Bond. She grew up and attended schools in New Philadelphia. As a girl she spent a lot of time with her grandparents at their farm near Londonderry, Ohio, where she fondly remembered riding her pony, watching her grandfather work at his forge, and where she developed a lifelong appreciation for quiltmaking from her grandmother.

After graduating from New Philadelphia High School in 1945, she came west to Missoula and later to Sandpoint with her mother and step-father, who was working as a surveyor on the Cabinet Gorge Dam project prior to its construction. She was working at the J.C. Penney store at First and Cedar when she met James (Jim) Ferguson of Dover. They married on February 5, 1949 at Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Sandpoint.

In the early years of their marriage, Erma and Jim lived in Monterey, California while Jim was serving in the Army at Fort Ord during the Korean Conflict. In 1955 they opened the first laundromat in Sandpoint, which they operated for five years. After selling the business, they lived in several places around Idaho before purchasing the Hayden Lake Hardware in 1965. They worked hard to provide a wonderful life for their family in Hayden. Their inviting home became a gathering place for family and friends who were always welcomed with a home cooked meal that included fruit and vegetables from their garden, and fresh baked bread and pies. After retiring, Jim and Erma moved to Hope, Idaho in 1992.

It was important to Erma to provide her family with the home life and opportunities that she never had growing up. She had an inquisitive nature and an appreciation for education, both in and out of the classroom. She encouraged her children to develop their own skills and talents through activities such as 4-H, sewing, horsemanship, scouts, music, Civil Air Patrol, and competitive shooting. She was a voracious reader who enjoyed learning new things right up until her health and eyesight made it difficult to see.

Erma was a very talented and creative woman who took up painting when she was in her forties and later pursued her lifelong interest in quilting. She made dozens of beautiful quilts for family, friends, and charity groups, and cherished the friends she made as a member of the Clark Fork Valley Quilters. She loved animals and nature, and enjoyed spending time in the mountains picking huckleberries and admiring the wildflowers. Her best day was any day spent fishing on the lake and she always seemed to know where the fish were biting. She could never resist a summer afternoon drive or a road trip and had an abiding interest in history and genealogy. Until her health prevented it, she attended Sacred Heart Church in Clark Fork.

She never knew a stranger and made friends wherever she went. She will be missed.

Erma was preceded in death by her husband, James; her infant brother, Donald; her grandson, Kristian; and her great-grandson, Kristian Mateo. She is survived by her children, John (Theresa) Ferguson; Paul (Karrie) Ferguson; Susan Ferguson; James (Lesa) Ferguson; and Ann Ferguson, along with 7 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

A vigil will be held at 7:00 PM on Thursday, August 29 and the funeral mass will be at 11:00 AM on Friday, August 30 with Father Dennis Day officiating. Both will be held at Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Sandpoint. Interment will follow at Pinecrest Memorial Park.