April Ruth Petty Kampeter

April Ruth Petty Kampeter passed away December 23, 2024. She was born on April 23, 1924 at home on a farm in Weiser, Idaho the eighth of nine children born to Hezekiah and Blanche Petty. They moved several times so she went to school in various locations. She and her siblings had to walk several miles to school, but finally when they lived in Kuna, they had a school bus to take them to school. It was a truck covered with canvas with benches to sit on. It wasn’t warm but at least they didn’t have to walk. There, she and her sisters were involved in school sports and summer softball. She graduated from Meridian High School in 1942.

Her family moved to Council, Idaho in 1947 and lived on Hornet Creek. She married Bill Kampeter in 1948 and they ranched on Hornet Creek for 23 years. In 1971 they sold the ranch and moved to their home in Council. After they retired from ranching, April played on the Council women’s volleyball and softball teams for several years, belonged to the Council Valley Grange for 50 years and the Happy Hornet Club for 40 years. In 2012 she had the honor of being Grand Marshal of the rodeo parade as she was the first rodeo queen in 1947.

Her greatest pleasure in life were her grandchildren and great-grandchildren whom she loved dearly. They had such great times playing together, riding bikes and going for walks.

She is survived by her daughter Helen Rice (Warren) her grandson Scott Rice (Kim) and her granddaughter Tauna Rice (Brad) and two great-granddaughters Lanessa and Giuliana Watkins and one sister.

She was predeceased by her husband Bill Kampeter and her daughter Alice Kampeter and seven of her sisters and brothers.

In 2021 her health started to fail and she moved to lndianhead Estates in Weiser, where she was cared for and loved by the staff and celebrated her 100th birthday.

A Celebration of Life is planned in the spring.

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