Loyde Monte Kuka
Loyde Monte Kuka
Loyde Monte Kuka, 85, passed into Glory quietly at home with family on January 4, 2017.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Ruth, four children, Ronald of Madison WI, Jennifer Eisenberg (Rodney) of Richmond KY, Daniel (Deaneen) of Wendell ID, and Samuel (Melody) of Chiang Mai, Thailand, 12 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren, one brother Ronald (Kay) of Woodburn OR, two sisters, Geraldine DeWitt (Jack) of Milton Freewater OR, and Mary Lou Cheek (Frank) of Arcata CA. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Joe Kuka, and a sister, Zoe McClellan. He was cared for by his loving wife, Ruth, during the final years of his life.
Monte was born November 8, 1931 in Shoshone ID, the first born of six children to Louis and Geneva Kuka. He attended school in Twin Falls. A depression era child, he was employed continuously from the age of eleven until his retirement. He graduated from Idaho State College with a BS in Pharmacy in 1955. After serving two years in the Army and working as a pharmacist for three years, Monte joined the sales force of Eli Lilly as a pharmaceutical salesman, a job which combined his interest in medicine with his love of conversation.
Monte never knew a stranger. He would engage people from all walks of life. Young people especially remember him as a tease. He often greeted friends with a joke or a pithy saying. One of his favorites was, “Have some of my God Knows pills.”
Helping others was his abiding interest, hospitality an expression of his deeply generous spirit. Extended family, Vietnamese and Sudanese refugees, homeless families, and a paroled inmate all found shelter and support in his home.
Monte was first and foremost a Christian and a family man, a faithful, loving husband and father. His three sons are Eagle Scouts and he himself a former leader in the Boy Scouts. Vacations were spent with family, usually sight seeing and camping along the way.
With his work, the family moved to five different cities where, upon relocating, his first priority was to find a church. He was a member and respected leader in Ustick Baptist Church for 41 years. The role he enjoyed the most, however, was as a church greeter and leader of the greeters.
Monte held a deep and abiding interest in Christian missions that involved Native Americans and international outreach. After retirement he and Ruth spent one and a half years in Africa and one year in the Philippines as guest house managers. Stateside, he volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, Wycliffe Bible Translators, and Food for the Hungry, until failing health prevented his continued participation.
Monte will be remembered as a loving, friendly, hard working, kind, and generous man. He was a good neighbor, funny, a man of integrity who was always interested in others. He will be sorely missed by those of us who were so blessed by his life. Rest in Peace, dear Monte.
Memorials may be made to Boise Rescue Mission or Mission Aviation Fellowship.
A graveside service with military honors will be held on Thursday, January 12, at 2 p.m. at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 14, at 11 a.m. at Ustick Baptist Church, 14301 W. McMillan Rd.
November 8, 1931 - January 4, 2017
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