Reta Mae Tate, 101

Reta Mae Tate, 101, of Coeur d'Alene, died New Year's Eve 2010, at the Life Care Center in Coeur d'Alene.

She was born Dec. 6, 1909, on a farm near Watonga, Okla., to Clyde and Olevia Falkenstien. They moved to Laramie, Wyo., in 1920. After high school graduation, she attended the University of Wyoming for two years. She taught school for four years before returning to the university where she met her future husband, Godon Tate, and graduated in 1933. While at the university, she was the women's tennis champion.

Gordon and Rita Mae were married on Feb. 17, 1934, in Golden, Colo. The following year they moved to Pullman, Wash., and later to Pomeroy, Wash. While there, children Donna, Bob and Jim were born. Gordon was transferred to Davenport, Wash., where Boonie was born. After brief stays in Coeur d'Alene and Hayden Lake, they resided in Worley for 12 years.

Reta Mae substituted for a short time in the post office before resuming her teaching career. In 1954, they moved to Mica Flats. While there, she taught at Borah School until retiring in 1974. They left the farm and moved to Coeur d'Alene in 1993.

She was an active member of the Community United Methodist Church, Mica Flats Grange, Alpha Delta Kappa, North Idaho Retired Educators Association and volunteered at the Kootenai Medical Center for 34 years. She also traveled extensively with her husband Gordon until his death in 2001.

Survivors include: Donna Hodgson (Rodger) of Ritzville, Wash., Robert (Caren) of Dallas, Texas, Jim of Coeur d'Alene and Bonnie Howell (Arthur) of Helena, Mont.; nine grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and a sister, Leta Deveraux (age 102) of Jackson, Wyo.

Public visitation hours will be held from 2-4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 7, 2011, at English Funeral Chapel, 1133 N. Fourth St., Coeur d'Alene. Funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 8, 2011, also at English Funeral Chapel, Coeur d'Alene, with burial to follow at Forest Cemetery.

Family suggests memorials to the Mica Grange Kitchen Fund, 7465 W. Kidd Island Road, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814.

Please sign Reta Mae's guest registry and view her online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.