Obituary of Neta Lemmon Bantz Carter

Please click the link below to view the livestream service:

https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/8590596628

Neta Lemmon Bantz Carter, 94, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 24, 2023 of natural causes. Neta was born at home on November 30, 1928 in Mountain Home, Idaho to Henry Lemmon and Kate (Stocks) Lemmon. She was the fourth of five children, a child of the Great Depression. Farm life taught Neta the value of hard work, the necessity of family unity, and an appreciation of home and her roots. Neta had a home town education and graduated from Mountain Home High School.

After high school Neta married Justus (Buzz) Bantz an Army Air Corps GI stationed at the Air Base in Mountain Home. The young couple moved to Buzz's home town of San Francisco, one of the largest and busiest post war cities in the country. City life brought many changes to Neta's life, including work and college at U C Berkeley. The young couple loved to entertain and enjoyed the celebration of every holiday. Neta never lost her love of flowers, crafts and home cooking.

1953 brought a new chapter Neta's life with the birth of Karl, the first of her five children. Buzz was now a CPA and attorney. The family moved from San Francisco across the Bay to Oakland. Bret and Kirk were soon added to the family. A fourth son, David, her youngest, died as an infant. In the mid-60s, the family moved east of Oakland to Orinda. Soon Andrea was added to the Bantz family and Neta's busy life grew even more hectic.

In 1974 Neta was widowed and a new chapter of her life began. The family clung together and moved forward, led as always, by the undeniable force Neta brought to bear on any task that was required of her. Tenderness and nurture turned to determination and resolution as she managed the affairs left by her late husband. Her three boys went on to college and marriage. Andrea was still a child at home. The boys, now adults, helped out as much as they could during these difficult years.

1975 brought Joe Carter, an old friend from Buzz's law school, back into Neta's life and they wed in 1977. Joe retired in 1981 and he and Neta travelled the world together, taking cruises to Egypt, China, Africa, South America, landing on every continent save Antartica.

 Joe and Neta moved to Idaho in 1991. They bought a home in Boise that Neta had admired as she put it, "my whole life." There she and Joe lived out their golden years. Family and friends enjoyed many celebrations and Sunday dinners in this home. They also grieved the passing of loved ones there. It was a home well lived in.

Neta is survived by three children, Bret Lemmon Bantz, Kirk Steven Bantz and Andrea Bantz. She was preceded in death by her loving husbands, Justus Bantz and Joseph Carter, her parents Henry and Kate Lemmon, her brothers, Angus Lemmon and David Lemmon and sisters, Betty Falwell and Nella Kuehl; also her first son, Karl James.. Neta is also survived by her grandson Wade Bantz and her great-grandchild, Tanner Bantz, and an extended family of nephews and nieces and their many children.

Neta's long and amazing life led from small town farm girl, to Big City woman and finally back to Idaho and the home of her dreams. Neta saw the world in ways she could not have imagined growing up on her small family farm in Mountain Home. She leaves many cherished loved ones who will forever hold her life in their memories.

A celebration to honor Neta's life will be held April 3, 2023 at 11:00 AM in the Summers Funeral Home chapel, 3629 East Ustick Road, Meridian, Idaho.

Graveside devotional will be at the Mountain Home cemetery at 1:30 pm