Shirley Young, 94
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 1 hour, 8 minutes AGO
Young
Shirley Young 1932 – Oct. 10, 2026
Shirley Young passed away peacefully Oct. 10, 2026. She was born in St. Ignatius, Mont., in 1932, to Elmer and Alma Morigeau Luedtke.
Shirley spent her early years in Dixon, Mont., before her family moved to Trentwood, Wash., where she attended West Valley schools and formed lifelong friendships. As teenagers, Shirley and her friends enjoyed trips to the Ivalee Dance Hall in Idaho, where she met her future husband, Eugene “Gene” Young. Gene always said it was love at first sight. They married in Rathdrum in 1951.
Together, Shirley and Gene raised five children in Post Falls: Norman (Judy), Dale (Victoria), William “Bill,” Diane and Brian (Kelly). They enjoyed farm life on the prairie while raising their family, then moved to Rathdrum Mountain, where they became part of another close-knit community.
Shirley loved being a wife, mother, sister and homemaker. Her family and friends were everything to her. She remained especially close to her brother Ed throughout her life. A wonderful cook who delighted in entertaining, she welcomed everyone with warmth, humor and a meal to share. She loved gardening, was an avid reader and always had a song to sing. She had a special way of making others feel at home.
Shirley also worked for the State of Idaho, assisting preschool children with developmental disabilities. In the 1980s, she co-founded Action Families for Mental Health, which later became NAMI of Coeur d’Alene.
Shirley is survived by her sons, Dale (Victoria) and Bill; daughter Diane; brother Ed; 11 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and numerous cousins and dear friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Elmer and Alma Luedtke; her husband, Gene; her sons, Norman and Brian; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
A celebration of Shirley’s life will be held Nov. 14, 2026, at 2 p.m. at Oasis Church, 4077 West River Bend Avenue, Post Falls, ID 83854.
Flowers may be ordered through Bevsbloomers.com. You may also make memorial donations to NAMI of Coeur d’Alene through its website, www.cdanami.org.