Joan Marie Winjum

Joan Marie Winjum (73) passed away unexpectedly at her home in Bonners Ferry, Idaho on May 14, 2007. Funeral Services will be held on Friday, May 18, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. in the United Methodist Church in Bonners Ferry, Idaho with burial following in the Grandview Cemetery. Joan was born on October 3, 1933 in Spokane, WA to Victor F. and Marie (Fish) Rae. She attended schools in Spokane, WA. She moved to Bonners Ferry, ID with her family where she graduated from Bonners Ferry High School. Joan was a Cheerleader, and named Coast Guard Queen at the Lilac Festival, and May Day Queen. She then attended Kinman Business College in Spokane, WA where she received a business degree. After she finished school Joan worked for Baird Norndorph Lumber in Spokane, WA. While in Spokane she met William (Bill) Winjum, and Joan and Bill were later married on April 3, 1955 in Bonners Ferry, Idaho. They moved to Bonners Ferry in 1955 for a year. They were flooded out in the Flood of 1956 and moved to Spokane where she went to work for E.L. McDonald, Inc. as the president’s personal Secretary where she worked from 1956 to 1965. Joan and Bill then moved to Portland, Oregon until 1969 when they returned to Bonners Ferry, where she went to work for 1st Security Bank for several years. Joan then went to work for General Feed and Grain as a secretary, a business that her father began where she worked until her retirement. Throughout her life she loved horses and over the years they owned several thoroughbred race horses. She enjoyed traveling, playing slot machines and all kinds of animals. Joan believed that appearance and neatness was important and she lived her life and instilled in her family its importance. Survivors include her husband, Bill Winjum of Bonners Ferry, ID; daughter, Sheryl Rae Dirks and husband Kevin of Bonners Ferry, ID; two sons: Randy Wayne Winjum of Bonners Ferry, ID and Steven Craig Winjum of Helena, MT; grandchildren Matthew Ryan Winjum, Michael James Winjum, Casey Ryan Dirks, Kyle Christopher Dirks and Michaela Michelle Dirks; Brother Don Rae and wife Dawn of Richland, WA; Sister-in-law Evelyn Rae of Bonners Ferry, ID; Sister-in-law Laurel Winjum of Redfield, SD; and numerous nieces and nephews.