Twila Marie (Simons) Fender

Twila Marie Fender, 90, of Nampa, passed away on January 3, 2020 at a Nampa hospital. A private family service will be held at the Nampa Funeral Home, Yraguen Chapel, 415 12th Ave. So. – 208-442-8171. A private interment will be at the Hillcrest Memorial Gardens, Caldwell. An online guest book is available at www.nampafuneralhome.com

Twila Marie Fender was born on October 22, 1930 in Petersburg, Nebraska to Guy and Elta Simons. She was the seventh of eight children. She graduated at age sixteen from Rock County High School in Bassett, Nebraska and taught grades one through eight in a rural one-room schoolhouse until she married. She married Delbert Fender December 27, 1948 in Ainsworth, Nebraska. They lived and worked on a farm in Bassett, Nebraska until May, 1955. During that time a daughter, Shirley Ann was born in 1951 and a son, Fred Wayne, was born in 1954. The family moved to Nampa, Idaho on July 1, 1955. When Delbert became ill and had to quit his job at Western Block in 1961, Twila went to work for the Nampa School District as a secretary. She worked at Lakeview and Eastside Schools for two years, then transferred to West Jr. High School. She worked there as a secretary-bookkeeper until her retirement in 1995. Delbert passed away April 3, 1970. Twila married Harold Fender on January 30, 1976. They enjoyed camping, traveling to the coast, and, after retirement, longer trips in their camper, including Alaska and the southwest. They particularly enjoyed spending time with their grandchildren and attending their various activities. Twila loved animals. Many dogs and cats enjoyed living with her and were spoiled by her throughout the years.  The birds and squirrels in her yard were very well fed!  Twila also enjoyed her volunteer work at Love, Inc. (Love in the Name of Christ) in Nampa, beginning in 1999 when it was first started. Twila and Harold were long-time members of Fairview Church of the Nazarene. Twila was a devoted follower of Jesus Christ and showed her love in action through her dedicated loyal volunteer service and ministry to her family and those around her. 

She was preceded in death by husbands, Delbert and Harold, her parents, three brothers – Tom, Jack, and Guy, Jr., and two sisters, Phyllis and Tressa.

She is survived by her daughter Shirley (Jerry Vassallo), son Fred (Laurie), sisters Helen Townsend and Joann Greenough, nephew Kenneth Reicks (Darlene), three granddaughters, Anna Marie Laurance (Dennis), Katherine Howard (Drew), Diana Shafer (Joe), and great-grandsons Ty Laurance, Colt and Graham Howard, and Sinclair and Lewis Shafer. She is also survived by step-grandson Scott, step-granddaughters Stacie, Dana, and Denise, as well as many nieces and nephews, and her beloved cat Cricket.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests that memorial contributions be made to Love, Inc. 16446 N. Franklin Blvd, Nampa, ID 83687 or Pet Haven, 333 Orchard Ave. Nampa, ID 83651.

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