Obituary of Barbara Jayne Sperber

Barbara Jayne Sperber (71) life time St. Maries area resident, died October 29, 2012 at Spokane, WA from complications due to surgery. She was born June 23, 1941 to Mark and Luella (Brown) Derry at Emida, ID. She grew up in Emida and St. Maries and attended St. Maries schools. She married William "Bill" Sperber on Nov. 12, 1960 at Coeur d' Alene, ID. They were best friends and life partners. They made their home in Plummer, ID where she was a homemaker while her husband was a long haul truck driver. They moved to various towns in Western Montana in the early 1960's and to St. Maries in 1965. Barbara went to work for Pendell Oil Co. in 1979. The following year, she and her husband moved to Alaska and lived on Prince of Wales Island for the next 16 years. While in Alaska, she worked as a cook in the area logging camps where her husband hauled logs. She and Bill returned to St. Maries in 1996 and she went to work for Benewah Comm. Hospital in housekeeping. Barb was later promoted to the Purchasing Dept. and worked in materials management until she retired in 2004 . Barb enjoyed watching baseball. She was an avid reader and loved her cats. Her children and grandchildren were her life. She will be missed profoundly and remembered lovingly by her family. Barb was preceded in death by her husband, Bill in July, 2011 and brothers Gene and Jim Derry and sister Ila Kibbee. She is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law Dawn and Dan Hawkins of Dillion, MT Brenda and Mickey Buell and Carol and Floyd Lanphear all of St. Maries. Also surviving are her brothers and wives Butch and Stella Derry and Larry and Sharon Derry of St. Maries and Paul and Doris Derry of Coeur d' Alene, ID Her sister Marketa Apperson of Corvalis, MT, 4 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. The family will honor Barbara at a vault memorial service where she will be placed next to her husband at Woodlawn Cemetary in St. Maries, followed immediately by a celebration of her life on Monday, November 5, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. At the Elks Lodge. There will be a time of sharing memories as well as refreshments will be served. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to Hope's Haven 53 Robinson Lane, St. Maries, ID 83861. Visit her online memorial and sign her guestbook at www.hodgefuneralhome.com Read Barbara Sperber's Obituary and Guestbook on www.hodgefuneralhome.com.