Saundra Lee Rowland, 72

Saundra Lee Rowland, 72, of Osburn, Idaho, passed away March 27, 2023, at Shoshone Medical Center, with her daughter, Christy, right by her side. Saundra loved Jesus and longed for the day to be in His presence. We can only imagine the absolute joy and pure love she is now experiencing.

Saundra was born April 24, 1950, in Seattle, Wash. She was unselfishly given up for adoption by her birth mother and at just a couple days old, she was chosen by Delbert and Ellen Roberts, who took her home to Chehalis, Wash. There, she became the only child and had a wonderful childhood. She was the apple of her dad’s eye.

Saundra just recently obtained her original sealed birth certificate and found her biological siblings. She was overjoyed and so looked forward to meeting them this year. She felt this was a beautiful gift of more family, which meant everything to her. She always longed for more brothers and sisters and obtained that in all her church family and co-workers. She would tell you she was “rich” in friends.

Saundra married Terry Rowland in 1967, but later divorced in 1973 and moved from Morton, Wash., to Napavine, Wash. She raised two children on her own and worked hard as a single mom. She made both ends meet as a school bus driver for the Napavine School District and worked her way through an A.A. degree from Centralia Community College. Later, she went to work for Bank Checks and decided she needed a career. So, she enrolled in International Air Academy in Portland, Ore., and went to work for Alaska Airlines upon graduation. That career took her to work in the Seattle Reservations office, Spokane Airport as a gate agent, and her last position in Boise, Idaho. She was a faithful employee for over 30 years. After retiring from Alaska Airlines seven years ago, she moved from Boise to Coeur d’Alene, and four years ago to Osburn to be closer to her family and a church family she loved so very much.

Saundra was a member of Real Life Ministries Silver Valley in Pinehurst, Idaho. She loved Jesus more than anything and truly loved others as she experienced God’s love. She was recently instrumental in starting the Grief Share & Divorce Care Ministries at her church.

Saundra loved all things “travel.” She has visited every continent except for Antarctica and Australia. Her goal was to fill a passport or two. Some of those trips included missions to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ to some of the poorest places in the world. It was not unusual for her to decide on a whim to take a road trip and just see where she ended up. She would always claim she "knew a short cut" which would really end in “getting lost” and taking twice as long. Her family teased her about it all the time, knowing she probably did it on purpose, to prolong the adventure. She was also an avid flower lover. You could find her outside most of the time making her porches and decks beautiful. She loved camping and being in the outdoors as much as she could.

She is preceded in death by her adoptive parents, Delbert and Ellen Roberts; and her biological brother, Albert Brinegan.

She is survived by her daughter, Christy (Gene) Jacobs of Pinehurst; her son, JD (Trina) Rowland of Chehalis; recently discovered biological brothers, Mike Brinegan of San Diego, Calif., and Steve Brenigan of Lakebay, Wash. She has five grandchildren, Brandon (Felicia) Rowland, Elizabeth (Dallas) Hammer, Courtney (Briana) Pitts, Carly (Mario) Ramirez and Merenza Richards. She also has three great-grandchildren, Oliver, Akasha and Noelia.

A celebration of her life will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 15, 2023, at Real Life Ministries Silver Valley, 708 S. Division St., Pinehurst. The family invites you to a reception immediately after.

Donations in her honor may be made to the Silver Valley Snack Pak Program, where she loved to volunteer filling weekend snack bags for local children; P.O. Box 81, Pinehurst, ID 83850.

Shoshone Funeral Services, Kellogg, is assisting Saundra’s family with arrangements. Memories of Saundra and messages of condolence may be shared with her family online at www.shoshonefuneralservice.com.