Eric and Rita Kilbey recently toured the North Idaho College Parker Technical Education Center, a place where their legacy gift will leave a lasting impact. Their generous support will benefit students in Trades and Industry programs for generations to come, in the very fields that hold deep personal significance to both Eric and Rita.
Eric, a seasoned mechanic whose career began at a General Motors dealership in England, was especially impressed with the facility. After decades of dedicated service, including military tank repair during World War II and heavy machine repair work across England, Canada, and the United States, his praise carried weight. With admiration and quiet but excited observation, he remarked, “You do good work here!”
Eric was born in Yorkshire, England in 1930, and Rita was born in Northumberland, England in 1932. They married in 1954, embarking on a lifetime journey together that led them first to Canada and then to the United States. Eric worked for many car dealerships as a mechanic, and in a variety of agricultural and maintenance shops to service heavy equipment. Rita worked on ranches and alongside Eric, and they both retired in 1988.
The Kilbey’s visit to the NIC Parker Technical Education Center was more than ceremonial, it underscored the impact of their generous legacy gift. Their legacy will live on through the students who walk through the doors to learn a trade and build a future. It is a gift resulting from years of craftsmanship and care for community.
For more information on how you can leave your legacy, contact the NIC Foundation at (208) 769-5978. Explore our free planning resources.