Rachel Lucile Melcher Hanson
June 17, 1916 - Aug. 24, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009 11:05 AM PDT
Ontario
Rachel Lucile Melcher Hanson, 93, passed away Monday, Aug. 24, 2009, at Wellsprings Assisted Living in Ontario. Memorial graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28, 2009, at Park View Cemetery in New Plymouth, Idaho.
Rachel was born June 17, 1916, the first of five children born to Ira O. Melcher and Katherine Kaessner Melcher, at the family farm southeast of Fruitland, Idaho.
Rachel lived most of her life in Fruitland, graduating from Fruitland High School with the class of 1936. She married Albert N. Hanson on Nov. 10, 1940, and they began their life together at Getchell, Nev., Albert working in the gold mines, then on to Grass Valley, Calif., where first son, Bert, was born. At the beginning of WWII, they moved to Berkley, Calif., Albert working in the ship yards as a welder. Here, second son, John, was born.
After the war in November 1945, they moved back to Payette County. Here a daughter was born, Margery. When all the children were in school, Rachel went to work as a grocery clerk, working mostly for Leonard’s Grocery in Fruitland.
Rachel enjoyed bowling and the many tournament trips she took. She also enjoyed gardening and her flowers. She was a member of Priscilla Rebekah Lodge No. 97 and attended The Church of the Brethren, Fruitland.
Rachel is survived by her children, son, Bert, and wife, Donella, of Fruitland, son, John, and wife, Cheryl, of Fruitland, daughter, Margery, and husband, Tom McConaghy, of Fallon, Nev.; five grandchildren, Deb and Phil Ayers, Ontario, Todd and Kristi Hasson, Meridian, Anita Miller, Nampa, Alan and Katherine Watkins, Eagle, and Chase Hanson, Fruitland; also, 10 great grandchildren, Josh, Holly and Andrea Ayers, Alexis and Ashton Hanson, Jerriann, Troy and Karl Miller, Griffin and Gravin Watkins; and one great-great-grandson, Bryton.
Rachel was preceded in death by her husband, Albert; her parents; and four siblings, Mildred Schlarbaum, Leon, Iowa, Lewis Melcher, England, William Melcher, Fruitland, and Jerry Melcher, Fruitland.
Special thanks to the staff at Wellsprings and to Heart ’N Home Hospice.
Condolences to the family may be made at www.lienkaemper-thomason.com.
