Walter Stephen Hennis, age 89, was born to Hubert Earl Hennis and Helen Marie Bond December 31, 1932, in Gardena, California. Walter was the youngest of six children born to this union. The family moved to the farm in Kuna, Idaho when Walter was one year old, in time for farming season to begin. Walter's family moved to Lakeview area in Nampa when he was 12. He went to school at Lakeview School and Marsing High School. Walter spent a considerable amount of time at the canal bridge batting rocks with a stick into the canal, when the school year started Walter was a celebrity of sorts for the way he could hit a baseball so far. Walter joined the Navy at 17. He served on the USS Bradford Destroyer off the coast of Japan. He served for four years. Later he moved to Washington and worked at Boeing as a mechanic for a few years. Walter got homesick for Idaho, so headed back to the farm and at 23 years old he met his future bride, Mary Ricks, at a church girls' softball game. That was the end of April 1956. Walter and Mary got married July 1st that same year in Winnemucca, Nevada. In 1961, they were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was not going to lose his Angel, Mary. After fall crops were in, they moved back to Washington and Boeing. That Winter Earl wrote Walter a letter asking him to come back to farm. They arrived back in time to start the season. Walter and Mary's first child was born in Caldwell, Idaho in 1957. Robert Stephen was small and early and passed shortly after birth. Kathryn Louise was born September 1958. She passed away of cancer in 2014. Jesse Lee was born September 1959. Stephen James was born October 1962. He passed away in October of 1977, in a school bus accident. Lastly, Samuel Lincoln was born February 1975. Jesse and Sam are Walter's surviving sons. Walter worked as a tractor mechanic, airplane mechanic and had a transmission shop. He farmed and drove a 10-wheeler and hauled hay with double trailers. He would say his favorite years were hauling hay with Mary in the truck. He loved kitties, and Mary. Walter thanked Heavenly Father daily for his Angel Mary. Walter passed away January 24, 2022, from complications of AFib, Parkinson's and a fall he took in December. Walter is survived by his wife Mary; sons Jesse (Helena), Sam (Ananda); grandchildren: Corey Hinkle, Jeremiah Hinkle, Steve Hinkle, Meg Omsberg (Nathan), Tanya Schwerd (Rob), Lena Hennis (Adam Mootry) Jed Hennis (Samantha), Angel Hennis, Marcia Hennis, Samuel Hennis (Lillian). The folks also have six great-grandchildren: Lilly Hinkle, Jai Omsberg, Charlie Schwerd, Jesse Hennis, Stoney Hennis, Nellie Hennis.
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