Lewiston Lewiston Morning Tribune,

Glen L. Tiede, 73, Lewiston, Tuesday, February 12, 2008


Glen Louis Tiede, a retired math teacher who was well loved and respected by students, family and the community, died at age 73 Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2008, from cancer at his home in Lewiston.


Glen Louis Tiede was born June 10, 1934, to Louis and Justine Tiede, at the family farm in Gifford, which was homesteaded by his grandparents. He attended grade school at Fairview in a one-room schoolhouse. The school was then consolidated with Gifford, where he graduated from the eighth grade. He then graduated from Reubens High School.


He attended the University of Idaho, participating in ROTC. He earned his teaching degree from the University of Idaho in 1957 and was drafted into the military. Glen served in the Marine Corps at San Diego, in the 7th Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton.


Upon his return from the military, he obtained his first teaching position at St. Maries, where he drove school bus and taught shop and math for three years. He enjoyed his first teaching job very much. However, he said "The junior high school students made me too nervous around the power saws."


He then accepted a teaching position at Lewiston High School, where he taught math for 38 years. His favorite part of teaching was the interaction with students. He enjoyed supporting students and attended countless sporting events, concerts and drama productions. He always thought students appreciated it when you were interested in them. His formula for teaching was a little bit teacher, a little bit parent, a little bit social worker and a little bit of friend. His math and science teacher, Leo Reiman, inspired this philosophy and the joy of learning. Glen was quoted as saying, "I experienced firsthand what it was like to be part of helping students learn and become better people."


Glen also participated in fundraising efforts on behalf of the school. His favorite fundraising event was the time he dressed up in a grass skirt with coconut shell top and performed open to the public to help all individuals with mathematics, parents and students, at that time. Glen continued to substitute at the Lewiston High School during his retirement years, still enjoying students.


On Nov. 22, 1969, he married Guyla Ann Steeley, his lifelong love and friend, who he remained married to for 39 years. In 1977, he completed his master's in administration at the University of Idaho.


Glen served as math department head, was a member on the 10-year school improvement committee and served on the state board for Idaho teachers and curriculum committee. He was also Region II representative for the Idaho Council of Teachers of Mathematics Board of Directors. He was a working member on the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory in Portland, Ore. Glen was honored as Teacher of the Year for the Lewiston School District in 1994-1995 and Outstanding Secondary Teacher for the Lewiston School District in 1991. He was also selected as one of three in Idaho to receive the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching.


Glen also worked for Twin City Foods in the summer during pea season as a mechanic until his retirement from school. He enjoyed being a mechanic and it reminded him of the times he experienced growing up on the family farm.


Glen was a long-time member of Grace Lutheran Church and an active member for more than 30 years at the Lewiston Elks Club, where he was a dedicated volunteer.


Glen had a zest for life. He enjoyed puttering in his shop. He loved vegetable and flower gardening. Throughout his life he and his family enjoyed a cabin in the country that he built among the pines and fir along with snowmobiling, four-wheeling, sledding, and fishing. We all enjoyed our favorite camping site at the Nez Perce National Forest, where we camped, hiked, fished, and spun our tales in God's pristine country.


Glen started our family on this adventure many years ago when he carried our children in a backpack and hiked into the lakes. The tradition had carried on as he also took his grandchildren to experience these wonderful places. Glen was a man who everyone called to assist them as he could fix anything, build anything, and repair cars.


Glen valued his family and was a loving, caring husband, father, and grandfather, whom we all will miss. He instilled his values in his children as well as his grandchildren, helping them with their homework and walking them to school. He valued his friends, beloved students, family, coworkers, and coffee group. We all will remember him for his kind, gentle, caring nature, his sense of humor and one who always greeted everyone with a smile. The line quoted in the newspaper at his retirement said it best, "Perhaps the secret to Glen's success was that teaching math was really only a sideline. His real occupation was caring for people." Close to his final days, he had traveled to his favorite vacationing place, which was Disneyland, "The Happiest Place On Earth."


Glen is survived by his wife, Guyla Tiede; daughter and son-in-law, Sundee and Gene Phillips of Craigmont; daughter, Marina Tiede of Kennewick; sister and brother-in-law, Laura and Marvin Jackson of Clarkston; brother, Claude Tiede of Electric City; sister-in-law, Mary Lou Tiede of Gifford; sister and brother-in-laws, Ronna and Russ Steeley and Charlene and Mike Hebert; and mother and father-in-law, Olive and Guy Steeley, all of Lewiston; and grandchildren, Kody and Lindee Triplett of Lewiston and Brayden Phillips of Kamiah; and many nieces and nephews.


He was preceded in death by his parents, Louis and Justine; and infant brothers, Walter, and Earl Tiede.


Viewing will be from noon to 6 p.m. Thursday and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at Vassar-Rawls Funeral Home in Lewiston. The memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Grace Lutheran Church with a reception following at the Elks Lodge. The family welcomes everyone to sign the online guest book at www.vassar-rawls.com.


Memorial contributions may be made to Grace Lutheran Church and the Lewiston High School Music Department.