Connie Marie (Collins) Cruser of Mountain Home, Idaho passed away peacefully on Monday March 16th, 2026 at the age of 86.  She was the daughter of the late Lawrence Vincent and Wilma Adaline Collins (née Pomeroy) born on February 5th, 1940 at St Alphonsus Hospital in Boise.  She was preceded in death by her husband Connley Elroy Cruser. 

Connie attended St. Theresa’s Academy, West Junior High, and Boise High School, graduating in 1958 along with the love of her life, Connley.  After graduation from high school she attended Sacred Heart School of Nursing in Spokane.  Connie and Connley married in 1962, and she accompanied him on U. S. Air Force tours of duty to Clark Air Base (Philippines), McChord Air Force Base (Washington), and Andrews Air Force Base (Maryland).  They endured a brief family separation during Connley’s service in Vietnam.

After Connley left the service, the couple returned to Idaho to settle down permanently.  They ended up in Mountain Home with Connie joining the staff at Elmore Memorial Hospital and Connley joining Idaho Power for the next 30+ years.  Connie had significantly more variability in her career and moved to the private practice of Dr. Richard Starkey for several years and later the Central District Health office in Mountain Home.  She also obtained her teaching certificate and developed and taught a certified nursing assistant program at Mountain Home High School.  She was enormously proud of her students and thrilled to watch them mature, develop professionally and eventually to be cared for by them herself.

Never wanting for free time, she also served as a Nurse Corps officer in the U. S. Army Reserve during Operation Desert Storm, opened a children’s clothing store, served as an Elmore County Commissioner, was an active member of the Our Lady of Good Counsel Mother Cabrini Sodality, and volunteered for the Mountain Home Senior Center and the St. Luke’s Elmore Foundation Board – the latter two her most cherished associations.  Other favorite things of “Grandma” Cruser included ice cold Coca Cola and Snickers bars, which were always in abundant supply.

Connie is survived by her brother Richard (Mary) Collins of Boise and her three sons - Daniel (Mary) Cruser of Highland NY (and children  Kathleen, Danny, Patrick, MaryGrace, Brigid, Onora, Matthew, and Josephine), Michael (Nicole) Cruser of Mountain Home (and children Allison and Emily), and Patrick (Sally) Cruser of Clarkston WA (and children Jacob, Mitchell, and Grace).  She was also blessed with thirteen great-grandchildren and wonderful nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly.

A wake will be held at Rost Funeral Home (500 N 18th East, Mountain Home) on Tuesday March 24th from 4-8 pm, with recitation of the Holy Rosary beginning at 7 pm.  A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church (115 East 4th North, Mountain Home) at 10 am on Wednesday March 25th followed by a graveside service at the Mountain View cemetery afterwards.  A reception will follow at the parish hall behind the church.  All are welcome to attend.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the St. Luke’s Elmore Foundation, the Mountain Home Senior Center, or the Saint Vincent de Paul Food Pantry of Our Lady of Good Counsel.