Nancy Mittelstaedt, 92, went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Feb. 28, 2012, at Pinewood Care Center in Coeur d’Alene. Our mom loved her family, was a wonderful mom and grandmother, and leaves a rich Christian legacy. Nancy was born Jan. 29, 1920, in Pasco, Wash. She was the oldest of three children (sister Helen and brother Tommy) born to Thomas Harvey Tullock and Theodora Velma Tilton Tullock. Nancy graduated from Kahlotus High School in Kahlotus, Wash., in 1937. 

Alvin Roy Mittelstaedt spotted Nancy, a star basketball player, from the sidelines of a Kahlotus v. Connell game — he was definitely smitten with her. After a courtship, Nancy married Alvin on Oct. 29, 1939, at Alvin’s parents’ home in Connell, Wash. Alvin and Nancy lived in Bremerton, Wash., for two years during World War II while Alvin worked at the Bremerton Navy yard. In 1942, they returned to the farm six miles out of Connell until the fall of 1962 when they built a home one mile west of Connell. They sold the ranch in 1975 and purchased and operated the Connell Mobile Home Park. 

Alvin and Nancy both came to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ in November 1946 and were active in the Connell Church of the Nazarene for years. They were instrumental in building the new church in 1961. The Mittelstaedts moved to Wilsonville, Ore., in 1988 on the day of their 49th wedding anniversary and lived near their son and his family until May 2004 when they moved to Coeur d’Alene. 

Nancy is survived by their four children including, Joyce Barton (Rick) of Post Falls, Gary Mittelstaedt (Judi) of Portland, Ore., Darla Bales (Marvin) of Yakima, Wash., and Mitzi Wilkes (Chuck) of Coeur d’Alene; plus 11 grandchildren (Juli Barton, Ryan Barton, Jami Mittelstaedt York, Jason Mittelstaedt, Lindsay Mittelstaedt Kuhl, Tyler Mittelstaedt, Mindy Bales Alsworth, Molly Bales Fleming, Andrew Bales, Kenzi Wilkes Judge and Jadyn Wilkes Evans); and 13 great-grandchildren (Lucia and Bode Barton, Adison, Preslee and Ruby York, Hana and Ty Mittelstaedt, Aiden and Madalyn Kuhl, Carter and Josiah Alsworth, and Callie and McKenna Bales). Nancy is also survived by her sister, Helen Helm, of Spokane.

She is preceded in death by husband Alvin, her parents, brother Tommy, stepsister Claudia, stepbrother Clayton and great-granddaughter Bryn Alsworth. 

The family is grateful to the staff of Pinewood Care Center, and the staff of River City Hospice in Post Falls for their great care of our mom.

Arrangements are being handled by Yates Funeral Home, 744 N. Fourth St., Coeur d’Alene. The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, March 9, 2012, at Connell Church of the Nazarene, 500 E. Franklin Ave., Connell. A graveside service for interment for Nancy and inurnment for Alvin (June 28, 1918 - Oct. 24, 2008) will follow at 2:30 p.m. at Mountain View Cemetery on Cemetery Road in Connell.

Memorial contributions can be made to The Alvin & Nancy Mittelstaedt Scholarship at Northwest Nazarene University, 623 S. University Boulevard, Nampa, ID 83686 (www.nnu.edu). 

Please visit Nancy’s memorial and sign her online guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.