Clayton Lee Unruh

Clayton Lee Unruh was born to Orville and Mary Giesbrecht Unruh on May 23, 1948, in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, during the notorious ‘48 flood. God called him Home during the night of January 12, 2022, after a yearlong battle with non-small cell lung cancer. He was 73 years old. Dad was always a strong support to us as his family, and it was difficult to watch him lose his strength.

Dad was a native to north Idaho with the exception of two years he spent in California as a child. His school years were spent in Boundary County. At an early age in his life, he had a desire to be a Christian and answered the Lord’s call and found forgiveness. He was baptized into The Church of God in Christ Mennonite on January 8, 1962, by Min. Curtis Dirks.

He grew up with his brothers and sisters on a farm.  Putting up hay in the summer with his grandpa, uncles and cousins were especially good times. Later his Dad grew potatoes which resulted in endless hours spent in the potato shed.  Don Howe employed his family thus experiencing valley farming with new John Deer equipment. Those were the golden years of the 60’s.  During the Vietnam war, he was called to serve in lieu of military service in Reedley, California. He often reminisced about his service experiences and made lifelong friends of his service buddies.

On March 26, 1971 he married me, Dorothy Regehr in Linden, Alberta.  Our life was blessed with 50 happy years. We suffered the loss of our first child, a son, Kenton, born prematurely.   We rejoiced in each of our four daughter’s healthy births. Clay enjoyed many avenues of work.  Carpentry was his first love but he took over his Dad’s hay farming and drove a logging truck for 25 years before setting up his shop to build cabinets and furniture.  This was truly his happy place.  The church was precious to him.  He involved himself in any way he could whether it be song leading or building committee. Singing was a big part of his life.  His cancer diagnosis was hard to accept but his resignation to God’s will was impressive.  He often prayed for humility and to be held in the hollow of His hand.

Those left to cherish precious memories are his wife Dot, Danette and Ryan Unruh, Greensburg, KS, Becki and John Minden, Bonners Ferry, ID, Colleen and Chris Toews, Ringwood, OK, Willa Unruh, Bonners Ferry, ID, nine granddaughters and one grandson. Brothers Lyle and Rose Unruh, Bonners Ferry, ID, Maynard and Daryla Unruh, Buhl, ID, John and Barb Unruh, Othello, WA, Emery and Sara Unruh, McIntire, IA, Verle and Denise Unruh, Fredonia, KS, Sisters, Kathy and August Peters, Murray, KY, Velda and Harlan Williams,  Bonners Ferry, ID. Dot’s family, her father, Walt Regehr, Ringwood, OK,  Brother-in-law Rawlyn Thiessen, Chilliwack, BC, Lyle and Karen Regehr, Pincher Creek, AB, Benita and Dean Reimer, Ringwood, OK, Connie Regehr and Cordell Cull, Okotoks, AB, Don and Katie Regehr, Linden AB, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his infant son, mother- in- law and sister- in -law, and close family friend Marj Day.

Viewing will be held on Sunday, January 16, 2022 at Bonners Ferry Funeral Home from 4:00 to 8:00 pm. Funeral Services will be on Monday, January 17, 2022 at Woodland Mennonite Church at 10:30 am. Burial will immediately follow at Woodland Mennonite Cemetery. To leave a message or memory for the family please go to www.bonnersferryfuneralhome.com . Bonners Ferry Funeral Home is caring for the family.