Audrey Roseth, 80

Audrey Ann Roseth passed away peacefully at home in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, on Feb. 19, 2010. Her son Steve was with her during all of her last days. Audrey was born in Missoula, Mont., on May 29, 1929, to Odber and Flora McElveny. She was one of two girls, her sister being Ruth Dennison of Lolo, Mont.

She spent her young years in the Bitterroot and Missoula with a short time in Kellogg, Idaho. She attended Missoula High School where she met her future husband Henry (Hank Roseth). They married in Polson, Mont., Aug. 3, 1948. Audrey was a fine homemaker throughout the years as she followed her husband in his career moves.

In 1957 they moved to Billings, Mont. After five years there they moved again to Whittier, Calif.

Once their son Steve got to his later years in high school she decided to seek work outside the home. After a couple of jobs, she walked into the Audrey Borland Interior Design Studio in the San Francisco Bay Area and this set the stage for the rest of her life’s work.

With a large dose of natural talent and mentoring by Audrey Borland she began her career as an interior designer which grew into total house renovation and interior design.

After some years in the San Francisco area she moved to Coeur d’Alene in 1972. Hank and Audrey bought a small cottage on Hayden Lake, remodeled it and enjoyed the lake for a couple of years. Then the real beginning of her design work took hold.

She opened Audrey Roseth Interior Design, Gifts, and Antiques, and while building the business she tore down the cottage and built a large home on the lake. She sold that one and bought the one next door, tore it down and built another beautiful home on Hayden Lake.

She continued by selling that one and buying the next house and totally remodeled it. That was three in a row. By then she was achieving a reputation. The store was doing well, her contract design work for individuals was going well and at that point she sold the third house and began a total remodel job in Rockford Bay on Lake Coeur d’Alene.

She continued by buying a turn of the century home on Lakeshore Drive in Coeur d’Alene. It took about two years to renovate this old historic home and in the end it looked like it did when new. When originally built it was known as the Villa Glendalough. She was always attracted to the property and never really understood why until her sister told her that when they lived in Kellogg as young girls their family used to come there and vacation as her father knew the owner. They spent many hours playing on Sanders Beach in front of the house. That explained her attraction to the house. She ultimately sold that one and moved down the street and renovated another in a light Tuscan style.

Her final project was the only one not on the water. The house was built in 1906 and took three years to finish. She finished this one just prior to her death. After 38 years in Coeur d’Alene, approximately 20 of those were spent renovating old historic homes. This was her passion and she was truly one of kind.

She is survived by her son, Steve Roseth and his wife, Betty; her grandson, Jeffrey; her sister, Ruth Dennison and her daughter, Susan and son, Paul. She was preceded in death by her husband, Hank Roseth; her father, Odber McElveny, and mother, Flora McElveny.

A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26, 2010, at the Missoula Cemetery, 1820 Rogers St., Missoula, Mont., with Yates Funeral Home, Coeur d’Alene in care of the arrangements.

The family prefers memorial contributions to Hospice of North Idaho, 9493 N. Government Way, Hayden, ID 83835.

You may visit Audrey’s memorial and sign her online guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.