Ida Elizabeth Riley-Newman

It is with great sadness we announce that Ida Elizabeth Riley-Newman passed away at the age of 92 on April 12th, 2026 with her family surrounding her. She will be greatly missed by her daughter Joy (Jim) Murray, of Grants Pass, and her son, Gary (Janice) Riley, of Grants Pass as well as well as 6 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Ida Beth was born April 20, 1933 during the great depression to Chester & Ina (Pentecost) Hopkins, the oldest of 12 children, 8 siblings still living, in Koshkonong, Missouri. During her first 5 years, they moved to 5 different states as her parents looked for work and a better life. With the prodding of a relative living in Alaska, they moved there in 1939 when she was 6. Her father found steady work on the Alaska Railroad. She accepted the Lord and was baptized at 12. Her family was growing and she recalls many wonderful times living in Anchorage, Alaska with her siblings as they did many outdoor activities.

As a teenager she met Kenneth Riley at church. He had recently arrived in Anchorage after his military service in Europe during World War II. She exceled in school with many achievements, but forfeited her graduation to marry Kenneth in her senior year (1950). Ken was the love of her life for 63 years and preceded her in death in 2013. For the first two years of their marriage they lived in Santa Cruz, Ca. where he used his GI bill in attending Bethany Bible College where their daughter, Joy was born.

When they returned to Anchorage, Kenneth began his lifelong work on the Alaska Railroad with Ida Beth’s step-father as his boss. After Joy started elementary school, Ida Beth began attending community college at night to attain her GED. She was encouraged by the instructors to pursue a teaching degree because of her love for education. Their son Gary was born in Anchorage during this time.

In 1964 disaster happened when the great Alaska Earthquake destroyed their home. In spite of being homeless for a couple weeks and dealing with the effects of the earthquake, Ida Beth continued her educational studies. She was able to complete her requirements and received her Bachelor of Education degree in 1965. She taught grades 1 thru 3 for 25 years with the Anchorage School District. Ida Beth’s love for education stimulated her desire to continue studies during her teaching years, thus, earning her a Master of Education degree in 1972. Thru the Master’s program she was invited to travel to Russia and Siberia that same year and Australia and New Zealand in 1975.

When she and Kenneth each retired, they moved to Palmer, Alaska – across the road from their son, Gary and his family. After spending many long winters in Alaska, they moved to Grants Pass, Oregon in 2001 following their daughter, Joy and her family. Their son Gary and his family followed them in 2012.

After Kenneth’s passing, Ida Beth met and married Dave Newman in 2017 in Grants Pass, Oregon. They both had recently lost their spouses. However, after only a couple years of marriage Dave passed away.

Ida Beth was a loving mother and grandmother to her family; she touched the lives of her students as well. Ida Beth and her husband, Kenneth, demonstrated the wonderful gift of hospitality, including opening their home in Anchorage as a bed and breakfast during the summer months for a few years.

A Celebration of Life will occur April 30, 2026, 10:30 am at Parkway Christian Center, 229 NE Beacon Drive, Grants Pass, OR 97527. Private interment at Eagle Point National Cemetery.