For Lynn: Remembering Rennie

Rennie and Sam Wormington at my mother's 85th birthday party. 

Rennie Poelstra came to my mother's 85th birthday party.  He also attended her 90th.

Actually, Rennie and his beloved wife Helen came to our house a lot, sometimes once a week for many years to deliver eggs. 

Rennie also came to shoe horses, and while he did that, my parents and Helen visited.  

Helen and Rennie Poelstra were like family to us.  My mother and Helen went back further than I can remember.  

Their friendship began back in the days when Helen, who lived in town on St. Clair, and Helen, who LOVED animals, worked for "Doc Eakin."  

Back in those days, I can't remember if there was a job title called "vet tech," but if there was, that was Helen. 

Over her years working with Doc and eventually having her own animals, Helen was often a "go to" expert Mother could call up on the phone for advice and, of course, marathon visits.

I remember the first time I ever saw Helen with her new boyfriend named Rennie.  It was when the Bonner County Fair still ran in early September at what's now the grounds for the local museum and Lakeview Park. 

Helen and a tall, blond Rennie came walking around the outside corner of the white indoor arena on its east side and said hello.  Twasn't long after that we learned they were getting married. 

We were thrilled for Helen.  After their marriage and their continued visits to our house, we could see this couple was a perfect match for our mom and dad.  

Helen loved horses and so did Mother.  Rennie knew and ran heavy equipment and so did our dad Harold.  They also talked hunting. 

In fact, there was never a shortage of things to talk about when these friends got together.  

Back in the early 1960s, Rennie, along with other local skilled heavy equipment/construction experts (Wayne Parenteau, Scottie Castle, Russell Oliver, Bud and Perry Palmer, etc.), helped build the Schweitzer Road, the main infrastructure, a 500-car parking lot, the first lodge and a mile-long Riblet chair lift. 

Later, he continued working at Schweitzer for its first-ever manager Sam Wormington.  Naturally, at our mother's 85th birthday party, Rennie and Sam, also proud military veterans,  did their share of reminiscing. 

Another similarity between our families came along a few years later when, in May, Helen and Rennie became parents of Lynn.  That same year, in October,  Mother and Harold became parents of their last child, Jim.

Lynn went on to excel at volleyball, eventually playing for the University of Washington where she received her degree.  Helen and Rennie were proud parents, to say the least. 

Helen left us last year, leaving Rennie with a broken heart.  More than likely Rennie happily re-joined her yesterday morning after passing away in Sandpoint at the age of 95.  

Both Helen and Rennie were admired by many, including family and friends. 

Both did their share for others, often in simple ways and always as a part of the solid fabric of old Sandpoint. 

It was evident from reading some of the Facebook comments posted on Lynn's wall,  that Rennie left a mark in many, many hearts with those egg deliveries, sessions of cutting up elk meat with friends and, as his niece Norma McKitrick so eloquently stated:

 I truly loved that man. He was as stubborn as my dad, had a heart of gold and a laugh that I always enjoyed. 

He made the best corn buns you ever tasted and he loved my homemade bread. 

Before I started work many years ago we saw your mom and dad every week, sometimes twice. I will truly miss him.

We'll all miss him as we do Helen and so many others of that generation who served as great examples of how generosity with the simple things in life, like eggs and good corn buns, leave the greatest and most long-lasting memories. 

A life well lived, Rennie.  Rest in Peace.

Our deepest condolences to Lynn and her husband Rik and the rest of Rennie's family. 

Rennie at my mother's 90th birthday party visiting with Myrtle Burnett.