Yolanda (Lonnie) Waechter, longtime Silver Valley resident, passed away Thursday, April 9, 2015 at the Good Samaritan Village in Silverton. She was 68.Yolanda Jean was born, September 8, 1946 in San Bernardino, California to Eugene and Lucille (Hinze) Pester. When she was a young girl her father nicknamed her Lonnie. She grew up in San Bernardino and Fontana with her two sisters and later graduated from Pomona High School in 1964.

Lonnie married her high school sweetheart, Daniel Waechter, in October 1964 after her 18th birthday. In her early years, she was employed at Don's Shirt Laundry and also worked at General Telephone as a telephone operator and secretary. Lonnie met many lifelong friends through her employment at GTE. One of them being Doris Needles.

In 1976 Lonnie and Dan moved from California to the Coeur d'Alene River where she enjoyed working in her garden and tending to a small farm. Lonnie worked for various employers in the Silver Valley which included the Credit Bureau of Shoshone County and at Bunker Hill Mine working in the Metallurgical Accounting. After the closing of Bunker Hill, Lonnie went to work as a bookkeeper for Panhandle Linen and Cleaners in Kellogg. She and Dan purchased the business a short time later in August 1984. Shortly after purchasing the cleaners they bought Fred's in uptown Kellogg where they operated for a few years and sold the business. Her husband Dan was tragically killed in 1990 near Bumblebee.
In 1991 her son, Jeff, joined Lonnie in operating the family business, and she sold it to him. After the death of her husband Lonnie had a home built in Post Falls, where she found the inspiration for another business opportunity for her son Shane in the Hydro seeding business. Lonnie was instrumental in helping both of her sons become successful business owners and she was proud of their achievements.

In 1996 Lonnie moved back to the Silver Valley and purchased a home on the Pinehurst Golf Course where she enjoyed playing ladies day golf and going to Pro AMS with the girls. She took pride in maintaining her beautiful yard on the golf course. She also worked part-time for Jeff at the cleaners until she fully retired in 2005. Eventually Lonnie sold the Pinehurst house and moved to Kellogg.
Lonnie always maintained a close relationship with her sister Sherron and they would often talk on the phone for hours. They were inseparable sisters and they were best friends. During the holidays, Lonnie always looked forward to spending time with Don and Sherron and their three boys, Bill, Roger and Tommy and their families in California. Lonnie and Sherron enjoyed watching the "Price Is Right" and playing online poker together daily.

The people closest to Lonnie knew her favorite things were black licorice, crossword puzzles, watching "The Voice" on Monday and Tuesday nights, and her sense of humor.

She is survived by her son Jeffrey of Kingston, Idaho; her sisters, Sherron (Don) Trawick of Lake Matthews, CA and Janice (Larry) Douglass of Palmdale, CA; her father Eugene (Leona) Pester of Anaheim, CA, by two grandchildren, her lifelong friend Bonnie and the entire O'Neill family. She was preceded in death by her husband Dan, her son Shane, by her mother Lucille and her friend Doris.

Per Lonnie's wishes, no public services will be held. Memorials may be made to the Silver Wood Good Samaritan Center, P.O. Box 358, Silverton, Idaho 83873, or the charity of the Donor's choice. She will be laid to rest at the Murray Cemetery in a private family ceremony. On-line condolences for the family can be left at www.bruningfuneralhome.com.
Bruning Funeral Home of Colfax is in charge of the arrangements.