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Wanda Maxine Carpender
May 15, 1932 ~ January 31, 2017
February 3, 2017
Wanda Maxine Carpender passed away suddenly on January 31 in Bonners Ferry with her loving husband Sam by her side. A memorial service is being planned for May 14, 2017.

Details will be shared at a later date.

She was born on May 15, 1932, to Walter and Grace Runyon in Hayes, Kansas.

During the Great Depression, Wanda lived in many small towns in Kansas, with Marysville being her favorite.

In 1945, Wanda and her family moved to Omaha, Nebraska. In 1947, she met Sam Carpender and only God could have joined two people born under the same wandering star on September 3, 1950, and boy, did they ever wander!

They moved from Omaha to Plymouth, Michigan, to Laconia, Michigan, to La Mirada, California, to Escondido, California, to Valley Center, California, to Eureka, Montana, to Montana City, Montana, to Ennis, Montana, to Dillon, Montana and finally to Bonners Ferry.

Wanda made many friends in all of the stops, as her Christmas card list seemed endless!

She is survived by her husband Sam and her children Michael (Anne-Marie), Debra, and Carol (Phil), grandchildren Katie, Natasha, Colin, Sam and Alex, brother-in-law Mark, sister-in-law Mag, her many nieces and nephews and devoted dog Willow.

Preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Grace, sister Gwen, her beloved son David and her many rescued pets.

If you would like to remember Mom, please consider a donation to the Second Chance Animal Shelter in Bonners Ferry or nationally with the ASPCA. Or anytime you are enjoying a hot fudge sundae ... think of Wanda!

She was our rock and will be dearly missed by every one of us.

“The joy of the journey is in the ride.”