Glenn E. Stelma, a 62-year resident of Bellevue, passed away Jan. 9, 2010, at St. Luke's Medical Center in Boise, Idaho, after a short illness.
Glenn was born 84 years ago, on June 14, to Nek and Anna Stelma in Bridgeport, Neb. When Glenn was 12 years old, the family moved to Buhl, Idaho, to work a new farm. Glenn grew up in the Buhl and Castleford areas and had many great stories to tell from his teenage years in the Melon Valley.
Just out of high school, Glenn enlisted in the Army and served in World War II in the Asiatic Pacific theater with Company B, 6 Engineers, C Battalion as a staff sergeant. He was stationed in Okinawa, Japan, and later served in North Korea and South Korea before the Korean conflict began. He was discharged in 1946 and returned to Buhl to help his father on the farm.
In 1948, the family moved to the Wood River Valley to work the Cove Ranch. Glenn met the love of his life, Phyllis Ivie, while working at Sun Valley bell service in 1950. After a whirlwind courtship with the beautiful girl in the beauty shop, they were married in Bellevue on March 19, 1950. Four children soon followed: Glenda (Matt) Ryan, Alta, Utah; Phil Stelma, Austin, Colo.; Don (Deb) Stelma, Bend, Ore.; and Dan (Chelsea) Stelma, Underwood, Wash. His three grandchildren are Nick Stelma, Bellevue, Idaho; Colin (Megan) Stelma, Fairfield, Idaho; and Wyatt Stelma, Underwood, Wash. He had one great-granddaughter, Alexandra Stelma, Fairfield, Idaho. He is also survived by his brother, Nick Stelma, who lives in Pasco, Wash.
Glenn was constantly aware of the need to give back to his community. He served up to the time of his passing with the American Legion Post No. 141, then Post No. 24, served on the Blaine County School Board for four terms, the Bellevue City Council, the board of directors of the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation, and the Rotarun Ski Area board of directors, where he had taught all his children and grandchildren to ski.
He and Phyllis were active in Bellevue Labor Day activities as well, with Glenn being the first to raise his hand when jobs needed to be completed. Though Glenn had been retired for a few years, he wasn't one to sit still very long. His daily routine always included a walk to the post office and to the gas station for coffee with a few chats with friends along the way. He was also out multiple times a day for a walk with his dog, Loki. In fact, they used the bike path so often that a photo of the two of them out for a walk was featured in the Blaine County Recreation District's newsletter!
Glenn was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Eleanor McCabe; and one grandson, Alexander Phillip Stelma.
The family suggests any memorial contributions be given to Blaine County Senior Center.
A memorial service will be held in the Bellevue Community Church on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010, at 1 p.m. in Bellevue, Idaho. Internment will follow later in the spring. Guest book and Obituary available at Wood River Chapel, woodriverchapel.com
