Former Pocatello mayor reflects on wife Laura Blad’s love and legacy
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POCATELLO —- Former Pocatello Mayor Brian Blad always knew his wife, Laura, was loved by the community. But in the days following her death Sunday, the outpouring of tributes and heartfelt stories has shown him just how many lives she touched.
Laura Marie Blad, 56, died Oct. 18 after a six-and-a-half-year battle with cancer. She passed away in her husband’s arms, surrounded by their children.
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In an emotional interview with EastIdahoNews.com, Blad reflected on his wife and best friend of 36 years, the mother of their four children and grandmother of six, and the lasting impression she left on those who knew her.
“She didn’t care who you were or what you looked like,” Blad said. “Whether you showed up at an event in a tux or a T-shirt, you were treated just the same.”
“She lived like Christ lived here on earth,” he added. “She met you where you were and loved you because you’re human.”
Blad said his wife had a remarkable gift for making people feel valued. She remembered their names, their stories and the little details that mattered to them.
“She knew everyone and everyone knew her,” he said. “If you were talking to her, she had a knack for making you feel like you were the most important person in the world.”
Facing cancer with grace and courage
Laura was diagnosed with bile duct cancer in 2020, an aggressive form of cancer that carried a devastating prognosis. Blad said doctors initially gave her just six months to live and advised the family to begin preparing for the worst.
But Laura defied those expectations.
As the months turned into years, her doctors were astonished by her progress. Blad said she survived far longer than anyone anticipated, and her blood samples were studied by medical professionals around the country.
“She blew the doctors’ predictions out of the water and went on to live for nearly seven years after her diagnosis,” Blad said.
Throughout her illness, Laura had the unwavering support of her husband and their four children. But Blad said it was her own determination, positive attitude and refusal to let cancer define her life that carried her through.
“She didn’t feel sorry for herself, and she wasn’t going to lay around and just die,” he said.
When people asked Laura, “Why you?” her response was simple: “Why not me?” It’s a lesson Blad said he has carried with him ever since.
“That’s the biggest lesson I take from Laura,” he said. “When I’m down on myself or going through a trial, instead of saying, ‘Why me?’ or ‘Why us?’ I think, ‘Why not me?’ or ‘Why not us?’ It doesn’t make it easier, but it helps me look on the positive side and not get bogged down by the negative.”
A partner in public service
During Blad’s 16 years as Pocatello’s mayor, from 2010 to 2026, Laura was a constant source of support and encouragement.
He credits her with helping him stay grounded through the challenges and demands of public office, always reminding him of the reason he sought the position in the first place.
“She kept me levelheaded and always reminded me why we ran for office: to help the community,” he said.
Laura also had a deep love for Idaho State University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in 2019 and later worked.
She served as an administrative employee in the university’s engineering department before moving to the ISU Alumni Center, where she became a familiar and welcoming presence.
“I’ve had people tell me they’d go to the alumni center just to talk to Laura when they were having a bad day because they knew she’d have a smile and lift them up again,” he said.
For those who knew her, Blad said, Laura’s ability to brighten someone’s day was simply part of who she was.
Remembering a life well lived
As Blad and his family navigate this loss, he said the overwhelming support from friends, colleagues and community members has been both comforting and revealing.
Stories continue to pour in from people whose lives Laura touched, often in ways her family never knew about.
For Blad, losing his wife and best friend has been one of the most difficult experiences of his life.
“She was just too good for this world,” he said.
Laura’s funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1440 Lakeview Drive in Pocatello.
Viewings will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Wilks Funeral Home, 211 W. Chubbuck Road in Chubbuck, and again Friday beginning at 10 a.m., prior to the funeral.
Burial will follow at Mountain View Cemetery, 1520 S. Fifth Ave. in Pocatello.
A celebration of Laura’s life will also be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the ISU Alumni Center, 1601 E. Bonneville St. in Pocatello, where she spent so much of her time making others feel welcome.
Blad is grateful for the love and prayers his family has received and hopes the gathering will give family and friends an opportunity to share memories, find comfort in one another and remember the woman who meant so much to so many.
“A celebration of Laura’s life will be extremely therapeutic for our family,” he said. “We want people to remember her for who she was. She was definitely loved.”