April 21, 2019… It is with a heavy heart that I must announce the passing of my lovely and talented wife on Easter morning. She touched many lives as a mother, member of the community and as an artist/instructor. We will all miss you Wanda!
Her obituary can be seen at the bottom of this page.
My husband & I have celebrated over 50 years of marriage. We have two sons who live in Idaho. Needless to say, my early years were spent managing a home, being a wife, mother and holding down a variety of jobs. Besides painting, I enjoy crocheting and love my Kindle for reading. Vacation trips as a passenger on my hubby’s Honda motorcycle are wonderful.
My husband I & watched Bob Ross “Joy of Painting” on PBS frequently. Even though I enjoyed all kinds of crafts, I never dreamed that I would be able to paint and to become an instructor. While traveling in Arizona, we had an opportunity to take a class from a newly certified Bob Ross instructor. We were hooked immediately. We returned home to Idaho and began practicing on a daily basis. The little store room where we set up our easels soon became crowded with all the canvas we used. After many hours of practice, we arranged for the instructor to come to our home to teach. We found other people interested in painting and set up several classes. We would practice and practice between class sessions that were several months apart.
Finally, Pat was encouraged to pursue becoming an instructor which requires 3 sessions of week-long classes that were held in Portland, OR. He would return home after a session and practice what he had learned. After he began teaching landscapes I decided to become a floral instructor. We packed up our 5th wheel and headed to Portland where I attended the classes. Soon we were both teaching on a regular basis. We built a studio in our home and became full time instructors.
We taught classes in Idaho and Wyoming during the summers and in Arizona in the winter. We taught in craft stores, senior centers, colleges and private home. We would arrange a place, advertise and were always surprised at how many people wanted to try this method of painting. The Bob Ross method is absolutely the best way to learn how to load paint on your brush and how to place the brush on the canvas. We told our students it takes 3 things to become an artist. First is the desire and rest is practice, practice and more practice. Many students continue to paint this way exclusively and others soon develop a technique of their own.
Time spent with a paint brush in hand just flies. I consider the ability to paint a gift and still try to improve on my technique. When the paint flows easily, it is a very good day to paint.
Wanda Alsup, 75, of Twin Falls, died Sunday, April 21, 2019, at St. Luke’s Magic Valley Medical Center, Twin Falls.
Wanda Lynn Alsup was born on September 5, 1943, to Andrew and Mardell Lessenden in Kirksville, MO.
She was the second of three daughters. The family lived for a time in Kansas and Missouri but eventually moved to Laramie, WY where she attended school. A member of the 1961 Laramie High School graduating class, Wanda had been active in both Future Teachers of America and the Future Business Leaders of America. Following graduation, she did office work for a local trucking firm but was then hired by her future husband as a cashier for City Finance Co.
On March 30th, 1963 she married Pat Alsup and spent the next several years following him as he progressed up the company ladder, a journey that took them to various locations throughout Montana, Idaho, and Washington. (10 major moves and a number of locations). During this time she held various short time office jobs and while in the Seattle area graduated from Nursing School as an LPN. She then worked at hospitals mostly in critical care areas.
Throughout this period Wanda assumed parenting responsibilities with the birth of two baby boys. With a husband who was now traveling, she managed her employments, more relocations, and motherhood with great expertise. Pat’s traveling jobs ended with a transfer to Twin Falls Idaho where they resided for 19 years. It was there that she took on the greatest employment challenge of her career as she and Pat purchased a struggling independent telephone directory. As president of Upper Valley Phone Books, she worked countless hours doing some sales, all of the ad displays, accounting, payrolls, and typesetting. After ten years of 100 hour weeks, Pat and Wanda sold a then successful business and started to slow down a bit.
When the boys completed high school, Pat and Wanda began to play a bit. For several years they traveled locally and into Arizona. They also did a stint of full time RVing where they saw much of the United States and parts of Canada. She and Pat also became Certified Bob Ross painting instructors with Wanda specializing in florals. To her last day, she loved to paint and was developing skills with colored pencils. She was an active member of the Magic Valley Art Guild.
Snowbird excursions south ultimately resulted in their moving full time to Apache Junction, AZ where they resided for 14 years. Just over four years ago they moved back to Twin Falls to spend their remaining years closer to the two boys. She had been in relatively good health, and it was an unexpected event that quickly took her life.
Wanda is survived by her husband, Pat; sister, Judith Shaw of Sheridan, Wyoming and her two sons, Mark Alsup of Boise and Steve Alsup of Twin Falls. There are also a number of cousins, nieces, nephews and her two brother-in-laws all of whom were stunned by Wanda’s untimely death.
Wanda was preceded in death by her parents and younger sister, Andrea Kern of Laramie. WY.
If any family or friends are considering sending flowers to the home, the family knows Wanda would prefer instead that you donate in her name to Magic Valley Arts Council, 195 River Vista Place, Twin Falls, Idaho 83301. These funds can then go towards a worthy art project in her name.
Wanda will be cremated, and a scattering of her cremated remains will follow sometime this summer. A Celebration of Life is in the planning stages. Cremation is under the direction of Serenity Funeral Chapel Life Celebration Center and Cremation Services of Idaho, Twin Falls. Condolences may be shared at http://www.serenityfuneralchapel.com.