RATHDRUM - They filled their stores with needful items, cheerful employees and happy shoppers, but the Stein family also filled the Rathdrum community with friendship, support and hard work that will be remembered for years to come.

"The Steins have always been a great contributor to our community in many ways," said former Rathdrum mayor Jim Parker.

"A famous person once said, 'Let he who is greatest among you be your servant,' and that was what all the Steins have done. Every time I've ever been there, they've wanted to help the community and they didn't ask anything for it. To me,

that's the best way of getting a return. And you guys have been a great help to all of us, and by the way, we love you."

Parker and more than 60 others honored the Steins during a ceremony Saturday evening in the Lakeland High School commons, where Jim, Larry, Delisa and other Stein relatives were presented with plaques and applauded for the nearly 40 years of service their family has provided by being an active community player in Rathdrum.

The Stein's Family Foods grocery chain was recently sold to new owners after a presence of 86 years in North Idaho, beginning in the Silver Valley and coming to Rathdrum in April of 1977. The Rathdrum store was opened by Al Stein, whose endeavors are still very much appreciated.

"Al was a big help in getting our community started," Parker said. "He was always willing to help with anything that we were trying to do to improve the community. It wasn't just to improve his business ... He gave so much of his time, and he didn't make a nickel for it, it was free, he gave it away. And whenever you do that it's not because you want to earn that extra nickel, that's not the way he was."

Speakers who approached the podium gave sincere thanks for the Steins sponsoring youth sports, helping with Girl Scout cookie sales, saving Thanksgiving with their take-and-bake pizzas, lobbying for community needs, allowing high school car washes in the parking lot, supporting local food drives and much more.

Sheri Padtik has worked at Stein's Market in Rathdrum for 20 years. She teased Delisa about her "bad joke-telling" and Jim about being "super smart" but having a dark side for being an Idaho Vandals fan, but she also expressed a heartfelt thanks for her years with them.

"This is a family that was great to work for. This is why when you walk into that Stein's you see so many faces that you have seen year after year after year," she said. "We're there because of these people. The Steins are incredible to work for. They're friends, they're neighbors."

Mayor Vic Holmes said the Steins helped promote the togetherness for which a small town strives.

"I'm not thinking you're done," he said. "You sold the store, but you're still going to be a part of the community. You may move on to another community and be a part of that, but you're certainly a part of this one."

The evening was organized by the Lakeland Sunrise Rotary. Refreshments were served, memories were recounted and many hugs and "congratulations" were shared.

"It's overwhelming to have this turnout and everybody say nice things about us," Larry said with a big smile.

Larry and Jim agreed that they will become "regular citizens" once again and will be done with retail once and for all, but they will continue to support the people who bought their stores.

"They hired all 150 people, they hired everybody at the same rate," Larry said. "If there's anything to help them continue on the tradition or the legacy, we'll do it.

"It was a good run."