Sharon Wendell

Sharon Ann Wendell journeyed to be with her Heavenly Father peacefully at home in Twin Falls, Idaho April 28th 2016.  Sharon was born in Yankton, South Dakota to Casper and Leila Pfefferle on September 23rd, 1933. 

One day while working at the local grocery store in Yankton, a handsome young man came through her checkout stand and asked Sharon out on a date.  Sharon, not knowing what to do or say, gracefully declined, the first request.  That man would come back every day and wait for her to check him out.  Finally, after countless attempts to take Sharon on the date, Sharon accepted.  That man was Vern “Bud” Wendell.  After that first date they became inseparable, and after many, many more dates they married in 1952.  Shortly after they were married Sharon and Bud moved to Garden City, Idaho to assist Bud’s parents run, what is now known as the West River Inn Motel on Chinden for many years. 

After getting accustomed to the Family Business, Sharon and Bud moved to Mountain Home, Idaho and purchased their own mobile home park.  The pair spent about 3 years in Mountain Home living in a 19ft Airstream travel trailer. Although the trailer was small, Sharon made it her own and often bragged about how she retiled the kitchen herself.  In 1961, the couple sold their mobile home park and moved to what would be their forever home, Twin Falls, Idaho.  Sharon and Bud purchased the El Rancho Motel on Addison Ave West and made that their home living in the small apartment behind the office.

In September 1961, the happy couple welcomed their first daughter, Cynthia Diane, and three short years later, Elizabeth Ann was born.  Their lives were full of excitement and stories and they ran that motel like a well-oiled machine.  Sharon took great pride in maintaining the El Rancho, making sure her flowers were always gorgeous and the lawn was always trimmed and green.  

Sharon and Bud were inseparable during their 35 years of marriage until his death in March of 1987.  Sharon continued to run the Motel after her husband’s death, with the help of her two daughters.  In 1991, Sharon retired from nearly 50 years of being in the hospitality business, sold her beloved motel and moved across town.  She spent her retired years enjoying the company of her family and neighbors. 

Sharon was blessed with four grandchildren and one great grandchild. She loved them all very much and was always involved in their lives.  Sharon became a great grandmother last April when Erin and Corey welcomed their first son, Merrick Danger Bruce.

Sharon was an amazing woman in all areas of life and business.  Sharon is proceeded in death by her father, mother, three brothers and her beloved husband Vern “Bud.”  She is survived by her two daughters, Elizabeth (Travis) McBride of Twin Falls, Cynthia (Lonnie) Jesser of Meridian, brother, Reid Pfefferle, her four grandchildren, Erin (Corey) Bruce, Brady Jesser, Mackenzie McBride, Tyler McBride and her great grandson Merrick Danger Bruce. 

A graveside service will be held at Twin Falls Cemetery on Tuesday, May 3rd at 10:00 am.  The family would like to say thank you to those special people who helped us care for Sharon near the end. Sharon touched many lives while she was here on earth. She will be missed greatly and never forgotten.  

God saw you getting tired and a cure was not to be. So He put His arms around you and whispered “come to me” author unknown.