Mary Luella Arthur, 89

Mary Luella Arthur, 89, of Lewiston, formerly of Mullan, Idaho, passed away Aug. 18, 2026, at Royal Plaza Assisted Living Center in Lewiston, Idaho. She was born in Weiner, Ark., on July 28, 1937. Mary was the first child of Marvin and Genevieve (Haney) Mitchell.

When Mary was 9, her family moved to Burke, Idaho, and her father worked at the Star Mine. She attended grade school in Burke. Her family moved to Columbus, Kan., where Mary attended high school.

In 1953, Mary's family moved back to Idaho's Silver Valley. When Mary was 16, she began working in the kitchen at Providence Hospital in Wallace, Idaho. At 18, she began working as a nurse's aide at Providence. Mary said her time at Providence was a real learning experience. She later moved back to Missouri and worked the evening shift at St. Francis Hospital and sewed baseballs for Rawlings Sporting Goods Co. on the day shift.  

Mary moved back to the Silver Valley and again began working at Providence Hospital, where she met William "Big Bill" Arthur, a patient having his tonsils removed. They were married July 26, 1956, and were married for 49 years until Bill passed away May 21, 2006. Mary and Bill had three children: Sharon, David, and William "Buddy."

When the children were all in school, Mary went back to work as a waitress at Ruby's Grill and Truck Stop in Mullan, Idaho. When Ruby decided to sell, Mary and Bill bought the restaurant and operated it for eight years. She became a partner in the Silver Shaft restaurant in Mullan, managed Sam's restaurant in Kellogg and later worked the front desk at the Wallace Inn.

When Mary and Bill retired, they moved to Mtn. View, Miss., to spend time with her mother, sister, and two brothers. In 2005, Bill and Mary moved to Lewiston, Idaho, to be closer to their children and to spend their final years back in Idaho, the place they called home.

Mary often said that raising her family on the Idaho Ranch at the headwaters of the Southfork of the Coeur d'Alene River is as close to paradise on earth as there is. Mary was innovative, ambitious, smart, hard-working, and spirited. Mary loved and enjoyed her family dearly. She and Bill avidly attended school activities and sporting events. She was proud of her family and their accomplishments. In her spare time, she enjoyed knitting, crocheting, embroidery,  painting ceramics, and collecting knick-knacks and mementos.

Mary is survived by her three children, Sharon Krulitz (Arne) of Mullan, Idaho; Dave Arthur (Patricia) of Lewiston, Idaho; and Buddy Arthur (Keitha) of Roundup, Montana. Seven grandchildren, Angie Jackson (Aron), David Arthur (Savannah), Steve Greenfield (LeAnna), Eric Rash, Dusti Kowalski (Ryenn), Tell Arthur, Joelle Arthur (Joe), and numerous great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. Mary is also survived by her brother Henry (Margie) Mitchell in Kentucky, her brother Marvin (Faye) Mitchell in Missouri, her brother-in-law Frank Arthur in Texas, and her cousin Leland Sullivan in Missouri.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Bill Arthur; her parents, Marvin and Genevieve Mitchell; her sister, Grace, and her husband, Henry Dey; her sister-in-law, Margie Mitchell; her grandmothers, Minnie Bunting and Viola Mick; her aunt, Betty, and her husband, Joe Crowell.

A celebration of life is planned for July 2027 in Mullan. Bill and Mary will have memorial graves in Mountain View Cemetery above Mullan. Their ashes will be spread across the mountain peaks above the Idaho Ranch, with Snow Storm Mountain acting as the Gatekeeper of the Mountains that create the headwaters of the Silver Valley Mining District on the divide with the headwaters of the Little Northfork of the Southfork of the Coeur d' Alene River; the Idaho Ranch nestled far below on its valley slopes. In life, the place where their spirits resided.

"Loss of our parents is immeasurable, but so is the love and strength left behind."