Elsie Marie (Friesen) Sain, 95

Elsie Marie (Friesen) Sain, 95, was born to Henry and Justina (Jantzen) Friesen on Nov. 28, 1921, near Thomas, Okla. On May 15, 2017, our beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother went peacefully home to the arms of her beloved Lord and Savior with her son, Alan, and his wife, Barbie, by her side.

She had five brothers and three sisters older, and two brothers younger — 11 children — living in a three-bedroom house! At the age of 12, her family moved just south of Custer, Okla. Her school years were spent at a country school until she started high school in Thomas where she graduated. She then attended a small Bible school in Weatherford, Okla.

On Feb. 7, 1946, she married John Henry Sain in Altus, Okla. They moved to California shortly afterward where they lived in a 12-foot trailer. After their oldest son arrived, they moved into an 18-foot trailer, but outgrew that when son No. 2 was expected. This time they moved into a rental home and son No. 3 joined the family. They finally purchased homes, first in Palo Alto and then Sunnyvale. In the summer of 1968, they moved to Priest Lake, Idaho, to operate the Airport Resort at Cavanaugh Bay. Elsie had never really seen snow — they got 13 feet that winter! After 2 1/2 years of living on the lake, they moved to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and Elsie lived in the area until her passing.

Elsie was a wife, mother and grandmother, but she also baby-sat several youngsters while living in California and then in the Coeur d’Alene area. She was dearly loved by all of them.

Worshiping her Lord and Savior was a huge part of Elsie’s life. She attended church from the time she was 3 weeks old until she was unable to get out any longer. At the age of 12, she was baptized in a pond near Custer. She attended the Coeur d’Alene Nazarene Church from the time they moved to Coeur d’Alene.

Elsie was preceded in death by her husband, John Sain; one grandson, Baby Jon Sain and all her siblings. She is survived by her three sons, Jerry (Linda) Sain of Hendersonville, N.C., Dale (Charlene) Sain of Bonney Lake, Wash., and Alan (Barbie) Sain of Coeur d’Alene; seven grandsons, Ryan (Kim) Sain, Michael (Jamie) Sain, David Sain, Chris (Amy) Sherlock and Devin (Lindsey) Sherlock, all of Washington, and Brent (Darra) Sain of North Carolina; as well as seven great-grandchildren.

Her family extends a special thanks to the caregivers at Legends Park and Hospice House.

A celebration of Elsie’s life will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017, in the fellowship hall at His Place Church, 3079 E. 16th Ave., Post Falls, Idaho. A light lunch will be served following the service.

Please bring memories of Elsie or email them to sainsplace@roadrunner.com.

In lieu of flowers, we are requesting donations be made to Digital Manna, a ministry created by Elsie’s grandson, Brent Sain. The website is www.digitalmanna.org.

English Funeral Chapel in Coeur d’Alene is entrusted with the arrangements.