Dennis Craig Kelvie

On Friday, September 6, 2024, Dennis Craig Kelvie exchanged his temporary home at the Idaho State Veterans Home in Pocatello, Idaho, for his eternal home in Heaven with his Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ.

Dennis was born in Juneau, in the Territory of Alaska, on July 9, 1944, to Wilbur and Kathryn (Punnell) Kelvie. Fourteen months later, he was joined by his sister Colleen. Shortly afterwards, their parents’ brief marriage ended in divorce. But God turned lemons into lemonade, creating a multi-generational family when Dennis, his sister, and mother moved in with her parents, living first in Flandreau, South Dakota, and then later in the North End in Boise, Idaho. Those were happy years for Dennis, surrounded by a busy, loving, musical family, as he made lots of memories and developed a strong work ethic.

Upon graduating from Boise High School in 1963, Dennis enlisted in the U.S. Army and proudly served his country, including being stationed in Germany for two years.

In 1966, after being introduced to Roberta “Bertie” Fenske, Dennis turned to a friend and told him, “That’s the girl I’m going to marry,” which he did later, on May 5, 1967, in Boise, Idaho. Over the next five years, they welcomed three sons into their family.

Soon after graduating in Electronics from Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho, in the mid-1970s, Dennis started his own business tuning and repairing pianos and organs, first in Pocatello and then in Boise, a career which spanned 46 years.

In 1991, at the age of 47, while still tuning pianos, Dennis attended Boise State University full time, graduating with a BA in Education in 1995. Upon graduating, he taught 4th grade and summer school math for several years, while continuing to tune pianos in the evenings and on weekends.

While Dennis was grateful for all of these events in his life, the one event he was most grateful for occurred on December 3, 1973, an event that changed the whole course of his life here and for all of eternity. On that day, he and his wife Bertie trusted Jesus as their Lord and Savior and their names were written in the Book of Life. Because of that, we have full confidence that Dennis is now in the presence of Jesus, his Lord & Savior.

Dennis is survived by his wife of 57 years, Roberta “Bertie” Kelvie, three sons and their wives, Bill (Elaine), John (Kelly), and Dennis (Trevor), five grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, September 21, 2024 at University Bible Church, 4700 North Philbin Road, Chubbuck, ID.  He will be laid to rest at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery in Boise, ID at a later date.

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