Rhodora Leyse

Rhodora Leyse, 90, passed away at her home in Idaho Falls, July 31, 2016, with her children at her bedside.

‘Rho’ was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, November 3, 1925, the daughter of Perry Jay and Mae Belle (Brook) Stearns, who named her after the flower and Emerson’s poem ‘The Rhodora’.　She grew up in Shorewood, Wisconsin, but would spend her childhood summers at the family cottage in the Northwoods where she learned to love the lake, the natural environment and especially birds.

She attended Shorewood High and graduated from St. Johnsbury Academy in Vermont. 　　She continued her education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Zoology and met her husband.

On September 7, 1946, she married Carl F. Leyse in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. After they both graduated university they would move to wherever Carl pursued his professional career as a nuclear engineer. They began their own family when daughter, Karen, and son, Dale, were both born in Chicago, Illinois, but they soon moved to Idaho Falls in 1951, staying until 1956.

Rho kept the family household running smoothly and their children ‘on track’ as they moved about the country, living in Pennsylvania and in several places in Missouri and California. Rho and Carl returned to Idaho Falls in 1972.

Rhodora enjoyed reading, concerts at the Teton Music Festival, the IF Symphony, birdwatching, skiing, and time at her cabin in Island Park.　She was active in AAUW chapters and book groups in Idaho Falls and Placerville, California where she was instrumental in starting a community recycling program.　 In Idaho Falls, she was a member of The Sociables, a gourmet group and various bridge groups.　She was a charter member of the Snake River Audubon Society, and a member of The Nature Conservancy, the National Wildlife Federation and other conservation organizations.

To be closer to her children, Rhodora spent much of the past five years in Davis, California, living at Atria Covell Gardens and with her daughter. She would return to enjoy every summer at her Idaho home and cabin.

She is survived by daughter, Karen Leyse; son, Dale (Myanna) Leyse; step-grandchildren Sophia, Peter & Michael Stovall; one brother-in-law: Robert (Jan) Leyse; and seven nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Carl in 2004; her three brothers, Forest (Hope/Ruth) Stearns, David (Jeanne/Mary) Stearns, and Perry (Frances) Stearns; and one sister-in-law, Angie Leyse.

The family gives thanks to the caregivers with Support for Home, Davis, and Cloudnine Agency, Idaho Falls, who helped the past months, plus the staff at Aspen Home Health & Hospice.

Honoring Rhodora’s wishes there will not be a memorial service, however friends and family will gather at a future date to celebrate her life and memory. Remembrances to her may be made to a favorite charity.Some of Rhodora’s favorites were The Audubon Society, The Nature Conservancy and The National Wildlife Federation.

No Services will be held. She passed away on