Lida Claire Williams of Lewiston, ID passed away peacefully in her sleep June 12 in Caldwell, ID at the memory care home where she had been living since 2014. She had been ill with dementia since 2011. She was 76.

Lida was born February 12, 1941 in Dickinson, ND to Robert E. and Claire M. (Ott) Bope. Her mother and siblings moved to Kellogg, ID when she was five years old when her mother remarried Herman R. Riep, who adopted Lida and her siblings. She attended schools there until the family moved to Lewiston when she was 16. She graduated from Lewiston High School in 1959.

The following year, when Lida was 19, she joined the Women's Army Corps . She endured basic training and was based in Alabama, Texas, and Oklahoma before being discharged. In 1960, she married Larry Milligan. Larry was a Marine and they lived on several bases throughout the Southeastern United States. They were later divorced.

While living in Mountain Home, ID, in 1971, Lida met Will Williams. They were married November 20, 1972. Lida and Will were best friends and enjoyed doing everything together - from working together in their landscaping business or as crossing guards for the Lewiston School District to playing cards with family until all hours of the night and taking their nieces and grandnephews fishing and camping at Winchester. They both had amazing senses of humor and always had family and friends laughing. Lida and Will did not have kids, but they loved their pets as though they were their children.

Lida was known as the Mayor of 15th Avenue because she helped organize the 4th of July block parties and always kept an eye on her neighbors. She knew everyone and people never had to wonder where they stood with her. If Lida liked you she'd give you the shirt off her back or the meal in her oven. And if you crossed her or hurt someone she loved, you knew better than to even try to apologize. Lida was very talented and creative and had many hobbies she enjoyed, including painting ceramics, knitting, crocheting, and playing darts. She was an amazing cook and seamstress and sewed many of her nieces Halloween costumes when they were growing up. Lida was a caregiver to many throughout her life. She cared for her nieces when they were young, as well as her mother when she became ill. She babysat her grandnieces and grandnephews and the children of some of her friends from the time they were only weeks old. When all the kids grew up she began work as a caregiver for Seubert's Quality Home Care and Addus Home Care. She retired in 2011 when she was 70. Lida never stopped taking care of others though. Even while she was herself living in a nursing home she still tried to assist and care for her fellow residents.

Lida will be greatly missed by her older sister and best friend, Roberta Morigeau of Lewiston and her younger brother and sister-in-law, George and Flora Riep of Saginaw, MI. She is also survived by her three nieces, Lisa and Steve Samuels of Lewiston, Lori and John Mattson of Kennewick, WA, and Lana Gruell of Las Vegas, NV; her nephew, George and Courtney Riep Jr. of Columbus, IN; grandnephews, Chandler and Taylor Grove, both of Lewiston, Dontae Wilson and Darion Gruell of Las Vegas and Adrian Riep of Columbus; grandnieces Haylie Kimball of Richland, WA, Chelsea Snow of Las Vegas, Hannah Kimball of Pullman, WA, Cashleigh Gruell of Las Vegas, and Renata Riep of Columbus; and a great grandnephew, Denver Grove of Lewiston and great grandniece, Leighana Herndon of Las Vegas.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Will; her biological father; and her mother and father.

The family is planning to have a celebration of Lida's life at a date and time to be determined. They would like to thank the wonderful women at Ashley Manor in Caldwell that cared for Lida so lovingly these past few years; Dr. Lenny Jensen for his professional, competent care; and Keystone Hospice for helping her stay comfortable during her final months.

In lieu of memorials, the family requests that those who knew Lida honor her by doing what she did her entire life – care for others.

Please sign the online guest book or send condolences to malcomsfuneralhome.com.

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