Agnes B Lothspeich

Agnes Baker Lothspeich, 93

On November 4, 2023, the Lord called Agnes Baker Lothspeich home. She was born Agnes Louise Baker on February 15, 1930, in Cadillac, Saskatchewan, Canada to James and Elizabeth Baker.  Agnes enjoyed her childhood raised on a small wheat farm on the prairie. Having no indoor plumbing or electricity, she learned that family and home entertainment were important.  She and her three brothers were self-taught musicians.  Agnes played the piano and her brothers the banjo, violin, and guitar. 

At the tender age of six, Agnes lost her mother to typhoid fever and soon found herself living with relatives in the United States. Shortly thereafter she returned to Saskatchewan to attend school at a convent in Regina. She later rejoined her brothers in Cadillac riding horses to a little one room schoolhouse over a mile from her family’s farm.  During her high school years, she continued her education through correspondence prior to moving to Spokane for her senior year of high school.   Agnes lived with her Uncle Albert Larson and maternal Aunt Jane Davey Larson and graduated from Spokane’s Central Valley High School in 1948.  Her father died of a heart attack during Christmas break of Agnes’ senior year. 

After graduating from high school, Agnes returned to Saskatchewan to take nursing courses at Regina Grey Nuns’ Hospital where doctors voted her the Outstanding Nursing Student

After becoming a registered nurse, Agnes traveled back to Spokane to work at Sacred Heart Hospital. In October of 1952, she met her future husband Richard “Dick” Lothspeich on a blind double date in Spokane.  Dick told his friend, Leonard, he’d take the taller woman, which was Agnes.  By February the two couples were engaged, and on June 13, 1953, were married in a double ceremony at Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral in Spokane.  Leonard and Frances “Fran” Jones remained friends throughout their lives. 

Dick and Agnes settled in his hometown of Colfax, Washington where she practiced nursing at St. Ignatius Hospital before welcoming seven of their eight children. In 1965 the couple moved to Moscow where their final child, Jane, was born.

In 1968 Dick and Agnes moved their family to Grangeville, Idaho to pursue Dick’s dream of owning his own car dealership, Gortsema Motors. Agnes worked selflessly to raise their children, providing a loving home, and making wonderful friendships in the Grangeville area. After the children were raised, Agnes worked at Gortsema Motors for several years until she and Dick retired.

Agnes was lovingly called Suzy by her husband and her brothers. Her children referred to her as Saint Agnes due to her unfailing love, kindness, and positive outlook on life. Until the last week of her life, you would always hear her say, “I’m so lucky for my health!”  She was a woman of deep faith devoted to the Roman Catholic Church and the Blessed Mother Mary. 

She was preceded in death by her mother Elizabeth, her father James, her husband Dick and her brothers, Ward and John.

She is survived by her brother Gene Baker of Spokane, Washington; her children and their spouses: Carla (Gary) Nibler of Milton-Freewater, Oregon; Jim (Danese) Lothspeich of Pocatello, Idaho; Jeanne (Rob) Schmidt of Melbourne, Florida; John (Janet) Lothspeich of Jerome, Idaho; Jane (Walter) Hadley of Watford City, North Dakota; Julie (Jim) Church, Kurt (Lynette) Lothspeich and Joe (Shelli) Lothspeich all of Grangeville. Agnes will be lovingly remembered by honorary family member Lori LeDuc; ten great-grandchildren; and 21 grandchildren: Mark and John Nibler; David, Kevin and Joe Church, Erica Cummings, Shawntelle Gustavus, Miquelynn Alvarez, Madison Loveland and Nicolette Lothspeich; Cameron Lothspeich and Alicia Posey; Carlee, Ben, and Nathan Lothspeich; Sarah Porter, Tony, Matt, and Joey Lothspeich; Keagen Hadley and Elise Thompson.

A rosary will be recited at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 18, 2023 at Saints Peter and Paul Church in Grangeville, Idaho. Memorial Mass will start at 11:30 a.m. A luncheon will follow in the parish hall.  A private family burial will be held later in the afternoon. Arrangements are under the direction of the Blackmer Funeral Home, Grangeville. Send condolences to the family at blackmerfuneralhome.com.

The family would like to thank the staff at Meadowlark Homes and Syringa Hospice for their expertise and compassion for Agnes.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Syringa Hospice or to Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church.

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