Obituary of Pearl Christel Compton

Pearl Christel Compton, 95, died Wednesday, March 6, 2024, in her home at Foxtail Memory Care in Eagle, Idaho. Pearl was born on a small farm near Crown Point in Cascade, Idaho, on July 14, 1928. She was the middle child of John and Rose Van Etten. She grew up in the Great Depression years when economic times were very difficult. Her mother, Rose, was a school teacher and often moved between small communities always looking to improve her salary. Pearl's father, John, was often separated from the family due to part-time employment opportunities.

Because of these many moves, Pearl went to 5 different schools in the first 7 years of her schooling. The biggest benefit was that her mother was her teacher. Rose, a master teacher, had a tremendous influence on her girls. Pearl was an excellent student and had a life-long affinity for books and writing poetry.

Pearl first briefly met Johnny Compton when she was 9 years old at the old Barber school. Two years later he joined her class at the Regina school near Mayfield, Idaho. Both Pearl and her mother thought Johnny was something special! By the time they went to Boise High they had become sweethearts. Johnny was drafted just prior to his senior year and was called to duty to serve in WWII. They married prior to graduating. Pearl became pregnant before Johnny's deployment to the Philippines, so she moved in with her in-laws, Vern and Melvina Compton where she lived for the duration of the war.

After the war Johnny returned and became a Boise City Fireman and subsequently built their first home on Michigan Avenue in south Boise. There they raised their children, Ann (Button) and Mike. Pearl remained a homemaker while the children went to elementary school. During those years she was very involved in the PTA and the 4-H community. She was thrifty and handy, canning fruits and vegetables and sewing clothes for her children.

When the children got into secondary schools, Pearl took some college classes to improve her skills and pursued her career. She soon began working at the Idaho First National Bank on Broadway Avenue. Her warm personality, excellent work ethic, and intelligence paved the way to a very successful banking career. She became a loan officer and excelled in the banking business.