Wallace “Wally” Glenn Lewis passed away peacefully at home on January 16, 2026, after a short illness. He was born in Shelley, Idaho, on October 2, 1943, to Hope Brown Lewis and Glenn Lewis (who was away at war). He moved to Moscow, ID, in 1946 and graduated from Moscow High School in 1961 and went on to graduate from the University of Idaho with a B.A. in English.  While attending U of I, he began working at the college radio station and then other stations in Moscow and Colfax.

After college, he had various interesting careers – a Top 40 station disc jockey at KPAM in Portland, a radio newsman, and a real estate appraiser to name a few – before returning to U of I to obtain his M.A. (English) and Ph.D. (History). After obtaining his doctorate in 1991, he began teaching American history at Western Colorado University in Gunnison, CO, where he worked for 24 years. Upon retirement in 2015, he and his wife moved back to Moscow. 

As a historian, Wally specialized in Western American history and transportation history. His first book, In the Footsteps of Lewis and Clark: Early Commemorations and the Origins of the National Historic Trail, was published in 2010. His forthcoming book about the history of Highway 95 in Idaho will be published later this year.

Family and friends fondly recall his wonderful sense of humor, his animated way of storytelling, and his wide variety of interests. An avid music lover, he played the drums for over 65 years and also enjoyed reading, painting, watching sports (especially U of I football), playing board games, fishing, and, in later years, learning to read German and Italian. He participated in over 15 community theatre productions as well as numerous reader's theatre productions in Coeur d’Alene, Moscow, and Gunnison, culminating in his role in 2017 as Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Moscow.  

He is survived by his wife of 49 1/2 years, Marilyn; his son Colin Lewis (Julie) of Boise; his daughter Monika Winger (Andy) and his grandchildren Maddie, Luke, and Elliott Winger, of Colorado Springs; his brothers Rand Lewis (Jan) and Reed Lewis (Karen) of Moscow; his sisters Camille Newburn (Gary) of Killeen, TX, Ann Lewis of Ridgefield, WA, Amy Derenthal (Andy) of Seattle, Christine Holm (Roger), and Susan Gehring of Lincoln, MT. He was preceded in death by his mother, Hope Larson, stepfather Leonard Larson, father Glenn Lewis, stepmother Norma Lewis, and stepbrother Butch Gehring.

Memorial services will be held on May 1 at 2 pm at First Presbyterian Church in Moscow, ID. In lieu of flowers, you may donate to the C. Edmond Lewis agricultural scholarship fund at the University of Idaho.

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