Violet L. Potratz, 102

Violet L. Potratz passed on Aug. 20, 2016, at the age of 102. She was born to parents, George and Edna Urquhart in Pierre, S.D. She was third born of 12 children.

Violet attended the country school until eighth grade. She met and married Walter W. Potratz when she was 17 in January 1932, and they were married until his death in 1994. They had three children, Kurt, Joann and Gary (all now deceased) who gave her many grandchildren.

The family relocated to Three Forks at Hauser Lake in 1939, where Walter became a lumberjack to which Violet helped him with some of that and keeping his books in order. There they lived off the land going to town for very little. She raised chickens for eggs, meat was hunted or fished, a large garden planted which she had to be constantly on watch for foraging critters. She once chased a visiting bear away with nothing but anger and a rake. She preserved all by canning on a wood stove or storing in a root cellar.

Violet and her husband moved to Coeur d’Alene to live a simpler city life in 1969. It was a nice adjustment where she still gardened, but it took some doing to get used to the city crowd. Her hobbies included playing organ music, photography, and she became an avid weather watcher who monitored and recorded on calendars daily highs and lows, and rain and snowfall levels for six decades. She was interviewed for this by our local weatherman and was honored by an article and picture placed in the local paper of which she was so proud.

Violet was very social and loved her family and friends, and enjoyed all the many gatherings through all the years. She is survived by her sister, Rosie Horn (Las Vegas); brother Dick Urquhart (Dalton Gardens, Idaho); daughters-in-law Rosalie Potratz (Dalton Gardens) and Bonita Potratz (Orofino, Idaho); nine grandchildren: Linda (Howie) of Spokane, Wash., Mark (Michelle) of Edmond, Okla., Tanya of Spokane, Cindy (Kevin) of Spokane, Mike (Sharon) of Benny Lake, Wash., Sharon (Jeff) of Orofino, Bob (Leslie) of Orofino, Gloria (Kenny) of Coeur d’Alene, and Roger (Rayleen) of Osborn, Idaho. She had 16 great-grandchildren and several great-great-grandchildren; and an uncountable number of family and friends that she touched. Violet will be profoundly missed by all, but leaves a legacy of love and strength behind.

The family wishes to thank the wonderful staff at Ivy Court, Coeur d’Alene Homes and Heritage for their excellent care of the last few of her remaining years.

No services will be held. Please visit Violet’s online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.