Laura Louise (Mathisen) Fender "Laurie" passed from the arms of her family into the loving arms of Jesus on September 8, 2025, after a recent diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

Laurie was born in Emmett, Idaho on April 27, 1954, to William and Barbara Mathisen. She spent her formative childhood years in Emmett, Nampa, Boise, and Yakima, Washington until moving back to Nampa her junior year of high school and graduating from Nampa High School in 1972. She attended and graduated from The University of Idaho in 1976 with degrees in Elementary and Special Education.

Laurie met her future husband Fred Fender at Nampa High during their junior year. They both played cellos together in the orchestra and it soon became apparent they were to spend the rest of their lives together in a harmonious relationship that was to last fifty years, with the recent celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary on August 23, 2025.

After graduation and marriage, Laurie taught school in several locations including a second and third grade combination class in Lewiston, started a special education resource room in both Spirit Lake and Athol, Idaho, and taught special education in the Shoreline School District in Seattle, Washington. After her husband Fred graduated from medical school, it was decided that Laurie would stay home and take on the most prestigious and challenging job in the world: being a mother. Soon after this decision was made, first daughter Anna Marie was born in 1981, followed by Katie in 1983, and completed by Diana in 1986. Despite the around the clock business of raising three daughters, Laurie somehow found time to engage herself with many community and church activities. She attended Valley Shepherd Church of the Nazarene for many years and served the church many ways including heading up Women's Ministries, various Bible studies, teaching, and playing her cello in the orchestra. She was also very active in her community by serving in the local PTA at her daughters' school, serving as an election volunteer, and playing her cello in the early years of the Meridian Symphony. She was also a lay chaplain in Marketplace Ministries, USA. After grandchildren arrived on the scene she poured much of her time, effort, and love into the job of being a grandma, which was probably her favorite job of all.

Despite being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2003 and more recently pancreatic cancer, Laurie was still able to carry out God's calling in her life which was to bring the Kingdom of God to her community and those she intersected with. Loving God and loving others were things she did faithfully to the end, by the work of the Holy Spirit in her life. Her impact on the lives of those she touched is immeasurable.

She is survived by her husband, Fred W. Fender, daughters Anna Marie Laurance (Dennis), Katherine Elizabeth Howard (Drew), Diana Christine Shafer (Joseph), siblings Betsy Howard (Joel), Luke Mathisen (Colleen), Janet Hascall, and Harley Mathisen, her five grandsons Ty Laurance, Colt and Graham Howard, and Sinclair and Lewis Shafer as well as multiple cousins, nieces, and nephews.

A private family internment service will be held at the Meridian Cemetery, and a memorial service will take place at Valley Shepherd Church of the Nazarene, 150 W. Maestra St, Meridian, Idaho, at 11:00am, Friday September 26th, 2025.

In lieu of flowers, donations in honor of Laurie may be made to the Backpack Program of the Meridian Food Bank, 133 W. Broadway Ave, Meridian, Idaho 83642.