Grace E. Kamperman
Sept. 9, 1913 – Oct. 22, 2008

Grace E. Kamperman, age 96, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, affectionately known to her family as Amazing Grace, joined her family in heaven Wednesday following a brief illness. Grace was born Sept. 9, 1912, to Robert T. and Zula A. (Lemons) Jones on a farm near Grandin, N.D.

She graduated high school in Page, N.D. and then attended State Teacher’s College in Moorhead, Minn., where she received a degree in elementary education. She taught school in one-room schoolhouses in Sunny Valley, Ore., and Santa, Idaho. In later years, she received a cosmetology license from Nip and Curl Beauty College in Coeur d’Alene. She worked as a hairdresser at the Desert Hotel beauty salon in Coeur d’Alene and was also employed by Clare Pendar in Post Falls.

Grace enjoyed reading, bowling, dancing, and spending time with her extensive family. She was very creative in knitting, crocheting, embroidery and letter and e-mail writing until her failing eyesight limited those activities. She was raised in a Christian family and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. Her strong and enduring faith has been a witness to others throughout her lifetime.

Grace was preceded in death by three husbands, each of them providing an important chapter in her life. First of all was Clarence Helgeson, with whom she raised their four children in Hayden Lake, Idaho. She then married John Baese and they began retirement together enjoying camping, fishing, and traveling to Quartzite for their winters. After John’s passing, she met and married Fred Kamperman. They enjoyed dancing, playing cards and games, and traveling to many locations, including Europe. They lived in Bellingham, Wash., and then Lake Havasu City. After Fred’s passing, she returned to Coeur d’Alene where she lived independently at Fairwinds Retirement Community for nearly five years, making many special friends there. Grace was also preceded in death by three children, Robert O. Helgeson, Virginia C. Douglas, and Donna M. Douglas; two sisters, two grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.

She is survived by her son, James C. (Roxanne) Helgeson, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; a daughter-in-law, Delores M. Helgeson, of Spokane Valley, Wash.; a son-in-law, Clifford C. Douglas, of Lake Havasu city; 12 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, 14 great-great grandchildren, and eight nieces. She was loved by all of them and will be greatly missed.

There will be a memorial service at 3 p.m., Sunday at Lutheran Church of the Master in Coeur d’Alene. Yates Funeral Home, Coeur d’Alene is in care of the arrangements.

Grace was a forty-five year cancer survivor. Memorial contributions may be made in her honor to the American Cancer Society, 900 N. Maple, Suite, Spokane, WA 99201 or Lutheran Church of the Master, 4800 N. Ramsey, Rd., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83835. You may visit Grace’s memorial and sign her online guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.

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