Carol Sue Stillman’s life work as a wife, mother, homemaker, farm partner and friend ended in Lewiston on Dec. 7, 2023, following a battle of over six years with a blood disorder, myelofibrosis.
Carol’s life began in Lewiston on April 28, 1947, to George and Margaret Henriksen. She was raised on the family farm near Mann Lake, growing up with an understanding of hard work and a frugal nature. She was active at an early age in 4-H and her church. Her competitive spirit together with a farmer’s thrifty eye to scope out a free lunch was rewarded with numerous trips in her late teenage and early college years earning opportunities to travel to Washington, D.C., Chicago, Ontario, Canada and St. Louis. Following high school graduation in 1965, she attended the University of Idaho earning a double major in foods and nutrition research and home economics education in 1969. After graduation she spent six months in Ecuador in the International Farm Youth Exchange (IFYE).
Skills developed through 4-H were rewarded with more than free trips, and she unknowingly caught Bill Stillman’s eye with her champion cherry pie during her years at Lewiston High School. Bill and Carol began dating in their senior year at the University of Idaho, and they were married Oct. 9, 1971. They built a home on Central Ridge and Carol strove to support Bill, keeping the farm records and marketing grain. She even wrote her own farm management program on a TRS-80 computer in the 1980s.
She juggled all this while raising three children and nurturing their every interest including 4-H, music and dance. Carol considered her children her life’s work and she worked selflessly to encourage and identify ways to enhance their skills. She capitalized on long hours in the car, traveling from their home on Central Ridge to hone their skills, reviewing books and flashcards, asking questions about homework and encouraging excellence.
She modeled a beautiful life of integrity and grace, and worked serving others with her hands through sewing, cooking, canning and home improvement. Her family has fond memories of munching on gingerbread houses, sewing quilts, picking berries in the canyon, and cooking from the garden. Holidays often found her in the kitchen, and later at the pinochle table when the kitchen work was done. Many fought over her pies when she took them to bake sales and church potlucks.
Bill and Carol spent their mid-years attending Cottonwood Creek Community Church. Recognizing a need and again leveraging her skills, Carol constructed and donated over 65 bible costumes. The costumes were a subtle way to encourage the church youth to develop their faith through performance and she enjoyed watching the children mature through the presentations. She served on the Prairie River Library Board for 20 years and worked to incorporate values of structure and policy into the core of the District.
Carol was preceded in death by their infant son John, then her parents, sister Ruth Ann Henriksen of Greenville, N.C., and brother Bert Henriksen of Lewiston. She is survived by her loving spouse of 52 years, Bill, and sister Louise Henriksen and husband George Grenley of Pleasanton, Calif. She leaves behind her three surviving children and eight grand children; Brian Stillman and wife Gayla (Jonathan, Timothy, Samuel, Lydia) of Nampa, W. David Stillman and wife Melinda (Benjamin) of Nampa, and Amy Uptmor and husband Neil (Leah, Cody, Katie) of Central Ridge.
She began and ended her life attending Orchards Community Church, and told the story of reciting her memory verse in front of the entire congregation during her elementary years. After finishing the verse, she reached out, from the stage, asking for confirmation from her brother, “Bert, did I get it right?” Yes Mom, you got it right, you got everything right.
A service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 15, at Orchards Community Church in Lewiston. A light reception and dinner will follow the service.
Memorial contributions can be made to Orchards Community Church or the charity of your choice.
Service Information
- Date & Time
- Friday, December 15, 11:00 AM
- Location
-
Orchards Community Church
822 Bryden Avenue
Lewiston, Idaho 83501
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