Elona Lucille Rhoads Yaryan

Elona was born to Iris and June Rhoads, May 22, 1930, in Hamburg, Iowa, and moved to Hope, Idaho, at the age of 6. She passed away on June 16, 2021.

She loved Hope and lived in her family home until moving to Arizona in 2020 to live with her daughter and son-in-law. She was a trooper and embraced the beauty of the desert, but Idaho was always her home. She was a bright spot to those who knew her; her sharp wit, ready smile and wonderful laugh will be missed by all.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Yaryan; and her grandson, Shayne Holt. She is survived by her son, Greg Yaryan of Hope; daughter and son-in-law, Leslee and Bob Hoover of Buckeye, Arizona; granddaughter, Aubree Holt of Scottsdale, Arizona; great-granddaughter, Kyra Holt of St. John, Washington; and her brother and sister-in-law, Nick sand Rhonda Rhodes of Weippe, Idaho. Her extended family includes JJ Jacobs and family of Grand Rapids, Michigan; and Suzi Sanford and family of Boise, Idaho.

She attended Hope Elementary School and Sandpoint High School. She married an incredibly special fellow, Jack Yaryan, on December 31, 1948, and they shared 60 wonderful years together. Jack had many nicknames for her including Clementine, Sasafras and, when her dark hair turned gray, she was Silvers. Elona was a member of Jobs Daughters in high school and the Rebekahs service club early in her marriage. A stay-at-home mom, she was active in her children’s lives including stints leading Cub Scouts, Blue Birds, and 4-H groups. And she was the best grandma ever!

She was an avid gardener and delighted in watching seeds grow. She looked forward to every February when seed catalogs arrived; she knew spring was on its way. Everyone walking by her East Hope house could appreciate her beautiful flowers and shrubs and copious vegetables.

Although politically savvy, she never aspired to a political career; however, she was asked to run for mayor of East Hope in 1978 and remained in that role for 16 years. She proved to be a formidable opponent when the Idaho Forest Service attempted to log 100 acres within the city of East Hope’s watershed which would have polluted the town’s water supply and caused adverse environmental impacts. After a five-year battle, the Forest Service abandoned its plan in 1983. And under her leadership, the citizens of East Hope voted to establish a sewer district which oversaw the development of the sewer system to protect Lake Pend Oreille where East Hope is located.

She served on the Bonner County election board for the Hope area for 60 years beginning in 1958. This was one of her favorite activities. She loved working with the other board members and visiting with the community members. She loved people, and she was our social butterfly.

Rest peacefully, mom, you have earned it. Enjoy your time with Pa and Shayne. We love you.

A celebration of life will be held later this summer.