Arlene Sturgeon, 80
Bonner County Daily Bee | UPDATED 1 week, 4 days AGO
Gloria “Arlene” Sturgeon, 80, passed away peacefully with family Saturday, May 23, 2026, in Priest River, Idaho.
Arlene was born July 15, 1945, in Liberal, Kansas to Arlie Rusell Kelley and Edivene Demuriel (Walker) Kelley. The family moved to Los Banos, Calif., in 1957, where Arlene would graduate from Los Banos High School. This is where she met her future husband, Bill; they later eloped to Reno, Nev. and were married Nov. 20, 1962.
She loved staying home, raising their two children. She volunteered daily at her kids' schools until they were old enough that she could move back into the work force. Arlene worked as a teacher’s aide for several years, before earning her teaching degree. No one could be more dedicated and determined to get this degree — she completed six years of schooling in only two years. She then taught third through sixth grades at LBE (Los Banos Elementary) for 13 years, until she and Bill retired and moved to North Idaho in 2005.
Arlene was passionate about her role as “Family Historian,” researching and keeping records for over 400 years of previous generations. She was a member of the Mayflower Society, Daughters of the American Revolution and the Associated Daughters of Early American Witches. She loved all manner of arts and crafts, from knitting, crocheting and quilting to photography and scrapbooking. Bill and Arlene owned multiple classic cars that they would frequently take to classic car shows and on multi-state, cross-country trips.
Arlene is survived by her husband of 63 years, William “Bill” Stanley Sturgeon of Sagle, Idaho; one daughter, Amanda Denise (Sturgeon) Dorris of Priest River, Idaho; one son, William Russell Sturgeon of Los Banos, Calif.; three grandchildren, Vivian (Dorris) Reese, Bridget Dorris, and Samantha Sturgeon; two great-grandchildren, Sawyer and Jack Reese; and her beloved cats, Baby Kitty and Maybell.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Arlie and Edivene Kelley.
Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint is handling the arrangements. Please visit Arlene’s online memorial at lakeviewfuneral.com and sign her guest book.