Rita Curtis

Rita Mary Beard Curtis, 94, of Idaho Falls, passed away peacefully on September 19, 2024, with her sons by her side, at The Gables Assisted Living Center of Idaho Falls.

Rita Mary Jeannotte was born April 13, 1930, to David Solomon Jeannotte, and Edna Marie Jeannotte in Belcourt, North Dakota, on the Turtle Mountain Indian reservation.

As a young girl, she grew up on the reservation, then moving for a short time to Minneapolis, MN. The family later moved on to Vernonia, Oregon. Oregon would become her home for many years. She met and married John Lee Beard in 1951, in Portland, OR.

In 1965, the family packed up and headed to Idaho Falls, Idaho, her home for the remainder of her life. She worked various jobs, the last being Fred Meyers from which she retired.

After John’s death in 1987, she married Lyman Curtis. He passed in 2012.

Her life revolved around her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. For your birthday, you could always count on your favorite meal to be served in abundance.

She loved to travel and visited many states. She also went on a wonderful cruise, down through the Panama Canal, and into the Caribbean with her sister and best friend, Martha. Many great memories were made. She loved knitting, her dogs, and especially dearly loved her family.

She is survived by sons, Jerry (Evadell) Beard of Portland, OR, Steve Beard, and Jim (Linda) Beard, both of Idaho Falls, ID; daughters, Pam Gorman of Henderson, NV, and Wanda Richards of Florence, OR; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, John Lee Beard; second husband, Lyman Curtis; son, Randy Ray Beard; brothers, Ray Jeannotte, and Leo(Blackie) Jeannotte; sister, Mary Martha Joynes Heidecker; and grandson’s, Joshua J Beard, and Zachary J Beard; her beloved dogs, DJ and Carly.

A celebration of life will be held next spring/summer at the residence of her son, Jim Beard, as per her request

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.woodfuneralhome.com.