Leslie Anne Dilley, 72

Leslie Anne Dilley passed away the morning of Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at Hospice of North Idaho’s Schneidmiller House. She was born Oct. 16, 1953, in Seattle, Wash., to Nancy and Clyde Hedstrom. Leslie grew up alongside her three sisters, April, Heather and Maribeth, in a home full of love, creativity, laughter and a sense of togetherness.

In 1969, Leslie met her high school sweetheart, Robert Dilley. Two years later, they were married, beginning a partnership that would span nearly 55 years. Together, they raised four children: their son, Bobby, followed by daughters Emily, Marie and Theresa.

During their early years of marriage, Leslie and Robert made homes in Redding, Salt Lake City and Fresno before settling in Madera Ranchos, Calif. There, they raised their family, grew pomegranates and built a life rooted in hard work and care. Leslie followed in her mother’s footsteps by working with students with special needs. While life was busy outside the house, she was also tending to her garden, keeping a warm and welcoming home and teaching her children the value of getting their hands dirty and enjoying the outdoors. In 1995, the family moved to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, a place that held deep family roots as it was the birthplace of her mother in 1928.

Leslie was the heart and glue of her family. Her children stayed close, drawn not just by geography but by her love, humor and steady presence. She found joy in the simple and the spirited — reality TV marathons, road trips, small-town shenanigans, cheering at her grandchildren’s sporting events and gathering everyone together whenever possible. Trips with her sisters and special time with her daughter, Emily, were among her favorites, as were quiet moments by the water, taking in the view with a deep, contented breath.

Leslie had a gift for showing love in ways both big and small: a quick-witted comment, a perfectly timed message, a warm hug or a serving of her famous macaroni salad (which nobody could ever quite replicate). She made people feel seen, cared for and often amused all at once.

She will be deeply missed, but her stories, her laughter and the love she gave so freely will continue to live on in the family she cherished.

Leslie is survived by her husband, Robert; her sisters, April Hyder (Nipomo, Calif.) and Heather Hurtado (Porterville, Calif.); her children: Bobby, Emily, Marie and Theresa; 12 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

Please visit her online memorial and sign her guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.