Rhoda Sanford, 89

Rhoda Mae Sanford, 89, passed away Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, in Sandpoint, Idaho. Private family services have been held. Rhoda will be buried at the Washington Veteran’s Cemetery with her husband, Del.

A San Francisco girl, born Nov. 11, 1936, to Fred and Lucille Cravens. Rhoda hailed from circus stock that settled in the Sacramento Valley. She attended Lowell High School, something she was very proud of, and De Anza College. She loved the city, and had wonderful stories of playing kick the can and roller skating down the streets of San Francisco as a child.

Twice married, her first husband, Fred Mayo, gave her three children, the greatest joys of her life. Mom’s second husband, Del Sanford, gave her love and kindness, respect, his own kids, numerous grandchildren, travel, adventure, and a new country home in Laclede, Idaho. 

Del took a job in England, and together they did plenty of adventuring and sightseeing. Rhoda volunteered at a secondhand store that raised money for cancer research while they lived in Knaresborough.

Rhoda was a published writer, member of the Sandpoint Monday writers, a published poet and a free-lance journalist that appeared in Northern Journeys, the River Journal, Idaho Magazine, Sandpointed, Collected Works Sandpoint Monday Writers, and Sandpoint, the Small Town with a Big Heart. She was a regular at the famous Five Minutes of Fame, people especially loved her stories about San Francisco and her traveling circus family. 

In her early 80s Rhoda was still bucking up her own firewood. After Del passed, she lived on her own for several years, and then “retired” to Luther Park in Sandpoint, where she walked to Memorial Park almost every day. She lived in the moment, noticing beautiful shadows dancing with squirrels, teeny-tiny pinecones, and colorful rocks. Folks in the neighborhood often stopped, asking her how she was doing. Although she never remembered their names, they always remembered hers.

She made the best pies in the universe, had a keen sense of humor, sharp wit, movie star smile, and a kind heart that continued to sweeten until the bitter end.

She is survived by her two daughters, Jenny Lopresto and Desiree Aguirre; stepchildren, Connie Mathis, Susan Ishibashi, Sylvia Taylor, Roger Sanford, and Rae Sanford; nine grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Del Sanford; son Rex Mayo; and grandson Nikolas Aquirre.

Memorial donations may be made to Angels Over Sandpoint, or one of your favorite local charities.

Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint is handling the arrangements. Please visit Rhoda’s online memorial at lakeviewfuneral.com and sign her guest book.