Craig Seward Tedmon Jr., 86

Craig Seward Tedmon died peacefully Jan. 5, 2026, at Creekside Community in Coeur d'Alene.

Born in Pueblo, Colo., on Jan. 19, 1939, Craig was raised in the Queen Anne Hill neighborhood of Seattle. The son of a stonemason and a nurse, he was awarded a full scholarship to MIT and moved to Cambridge, Mass. He returned to Seattle every summer to work, which was where he met the love of his life, Rose. They were married July 9, 1959, and moved back to Cambridge, where they lived until Craig finished his doctorate degree in metallurgy. Their son, Richard, was born in 1961, followed by their daughters, Susan and Wendy, in 1964 and 1965, respectively.

Craig worked for General Electric for over 20 years, first in Schenectady, New York, and then in Fairfield, Conn., before accepting a job with Noranda Mining and Forestry in Toronto. Three years later, he accepted an offer with ABB, a multinational engineering firm based in Zurich, Switzerland. This position had him jetting from various points in Switzerland to Germany, Sweden, Italy and other places in Europe. A lifelong outdoorsman, Craig continued to ski, hike, and boat in Europe, while also taking in the rich cultural opportunities: the opera at La Scala, the Olympic games in Lillehammer, and the art galleries of London.

Upon his retirement from ABB, Craig and Rose moved to Hayden Lake, Idaho, where they became deeply involved in the art community, hosting classes in their studio and frequenting galleries near and far. In addition to his artistic pursuits, Craig enjoyed the beauty of the Pacific Northwest, golfing, skiing, boating and hiking, usually in the company of one or more of his children. He used to say that a good day was when he could ski in the morning and golf in the afternoon. He was thrilled when his son, Ted, and daughter-in-law Tammy moved to Hayden Lake to join him in these activities more regularly.

Possessed of enormous energy and a desire to improve the lives of those in his new community, Craig founded Bank CdA to facilitate the growth of local small businesses. He and Rose also continued to explore the world, taking cruises to diverse places including Australia and the Arctic, and visiting their daughter, Sue and her family in Israel. 

Craig was deeply devoted to his wife, Rose, who survives him. He is also survived by his son, Ted Tedmon and daughter-in-law, Tammy; his daughter, Sue Rosenfeld, and son-in-law Tom; and his son-in-law, John Bury, who was married to his daughter, Wendy Lee Tedmon, who predeceased him. Craig was blessed with 12 adoring grandchildren and three great-grandchildren who basked in his warmth and delighted in his humor.

Craig's passing will be commemorated privately by his family. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be directed to the Tedmon Family Scholarship at North Idaho College Foundation, Inc., 1000 West Garden Ave., Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 83814, or online at www.nic.edu, and noted "In memory of Craig Tedmon."

Please visit Craig’s online memorial and sign his guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.