Vera June (Drapeau) Otterson, 88

Vera June (Drapeau) Otterson, 88, passed away at the home of her son, Greg, and his wife, Nina, in Bangkok, Thailand, on Feb. 28, 2021, surrounded by friends and family. Born June 30, 1932, in Hailey, Idaho, Mom was a lifelong Idaho resident and spent the majority of her life in the Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene area. For the last 14 months, Mom has been at her son Greg’s home in Bangkok, where she was in the care of Greg and Nina and two wonderful caretakers.

She is the last survivor of the 14 children borne by her parents, Eldemore and Ivy Drapeau of Coeur d’Alene. She and her husband, Ted, who passed away in 2011, are survived by their two sons, Jeff and Greg. With such a large family, Vera is also survived by many nieces and nephews scattered around the Pacific Northwest.

Mom spent her adult life raising her children, helping Dad build a new house, working on the family farm, raising cattle, growing gardens, canning fruit and vegetables, getting firewood in the mountains, taking children to sporting events, and at age 55, she earned her private pilot’s license, which in her mind was her single greatest achievement. She was very proud to join Dad, Jeff and Greg as fellow pilots.

In her later years she and Dad traveled throughout the United States in their motorhome and visited a number of overseas countries, including South Korea, Dubai, Oman, China, Thailand and Laos. The Korea visit was the most emotional, as she accompanied Dad to see where he went to war as an Army soldier during the Korean War, only a few short months after they were married in 1950. Dad and Mom were treated like royalty by the South Koreans everywhere we went, with many thanks to Dad for his sacrifices on behalf of the Korean people.

Mom always had a feeling in the back of her mind that she never really accomplished anything significant during her life. But, as we write this and look back over her life, she accomplished more than she could ever imagine.

Mom could do anything and everything — birthing calves, fixing cars, cooking feasts, doctoring us kids and Dad when we were sick or hurt, driving tractors, wheeling and dealing on buying and selling stuff (Dad always had her negotiate), helping family and friends in need, being the de facto matriarch of her large, extended family, and acting as a second mom to many of our close friends.

Mom made friends everywhere she went, even bringing home strangers for dinner, including an occasional young lady she hoped to introduce to her eligible sons, which never worked beyond embarrassing us greatly.

Funeral services were held for mom in Bangkok, Thailand, with family and friends. Later this year when international travel restrictions are eased we plan to have a celebration of life in Post Falls.