Leila Faye West

RUPERT – Leila Faye West, age 85, of Rupert, Idaho, passed away on Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013, at the Countryside Care and Rehabilitation Center in Rupert.

Faye was the daughter of Dave and Elsie Pfeifer. She was born on Sept. 21, 1927, and was the second oldest of nine children. She married Alvin G. West, of Acequia, and they lived and raised their family mostly in southern Idaho.

Faye is survived by five brothers, Tilmus “Jack” (Twylla) Pfeifer, Gerald “Jerry” (Linda) Pfeifer, Melvin (Yoosoon) Pfeifer, Merlyn (Debbie) Pfeifer, and Lester “Butch” (Sue) Pfeifer; two sisters, JoAnn (Kent) Bryan, and Sharon (Bob) Hissung; two sons, Jack (June) West and Malcolm West; eight grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; an older brother, Dale; and an infant son, Alvin Ray West.

Faye was born in Zeeland, N.D., and spent the first 12 years of her life in a small German community where she learned to speak only German. When the family moved to southwestern Idaho, she discovered that all of her classmates spoke English. This presented quite a challenge for the shy, 12 year old. Faye grew up helping her family work on the farm. In her late teens and early twenties, Faye worked as a waitress and later in the food processing industry. In addition to her work as a lab technician at Simplots in Heyburn, Faye also spent some time working as a camp host for the Forest Service. She was stationed at Brownlee Reservoir located near the Idaho and Oregon borders. This was an exciting experience for Grandma West, and she loved talking to campers and Forest Service workers.

Faye loved camping with her family and also loved playing softball and bowling. She was also good at crafts and liked to do ceramics, and knitted and crocheted many beautiful afghans and other items. Faye also loved to play softball and was a fast and accurate pitcher. She was also a good bowler and traveled many places with her team to play in games and tournaments. She has a wall full of awards and pins. She loved being with her kids and grandchildren, and often let them talk her into rather dangerous activities – snow skiing, motor cycle and snowmobile riding, driving on unfamiliar roads, etc.

Faye was greatly loved by her family and will be sorely missed. Say hi to Dad for us Mom.

The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 18, at the Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley, where friends and family may call one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in the Paul Cemetery.