Amelia G. Schave, 84

Funeral services for Amelia G. Schave, 84, were held Saturday at the United Methodist Church in Bonners Ferry.

Interment followed at Grandview Cemetery in Bonners Ferry.

Amelia passed away Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008, at Boundary Community Hospital in Bonners Ferry.

Amelia Georgia Gerstenecker was born on June 18, 1924, on a farm northwest of Fedora, S.D., to Charles and Hannah Wendt Gerstenecker. She only weighed 6 pounds and stayed little all her life.

Amelia went to country grade school in Clinton and Beaver townships in Miner County, S.D. She went to Fedora High School, graduating in 1942.

Amelia worked at different jobs, including working for neighbors with new babies until she married Lloyd Schave on January 22, 1948. To this union five children were born.

They farmed and moved to her grandparents’ homestead in 1951.

Amelia lived her whole life in Miner County until moving to Bonners Ferry with her husband in 1970. She was a wife and homemaker first and foremost. Amelia was always busy with gardening, canning, cooking baking, letter writing and darning socks.

She helped dad, sowing and reaping crops, putting up hay, fixing machinery, milking cows and feeding animals.

Mom sewed any number of quilts and was often patching someone’s clothes. Her cookie jars were always full. For years Amelia baked bread two to three times a week, cutting back to weekly the past few years. In fact she had baked bread last Saturday.

Amelia became a member of the Methodist church as a child before it became United Methodist Church. She was a UMW member, Sunday School teacher, former trustee and baby-sat for a number of years as well as being on the Prayer Chain, all at the United Methodist Church in Bonners Ferry.

Amelia quit going to church when she could no longer drive due to vertigo and macular degeneration. She did however remain on the Memorial Fund until her death.

Amelia worked at Valley View until she could get 20 years accumulated and retired at 67.

The past few years, mom would make a delicious Sunday dinner (held at noon — a farm tradition) for all of us kids. She would make chicken one week and roast beef the next with all the trimmings. Then we would sit and play cards and visit. Grandchildren and great-grandchildren would stop by for cookies or desserts.

Those surviving her, and truly missing her, will be her husband of 60-plus years; children Charlotte Kothe, Charlene Mullis, Shirley Schave, Ray and Larry, all of Bonners Ferry; grandchildren Gina Minor of Bonners Ferry, Christine Drapeau of Coeur d’Alene, Luke Kothe of Wasila, Alaska, Susie Hanson of Moscow, Christopher Schave of China, Brittany Schave and Nicholas Schave, both of Bonners Ferry, Tristan Mullis and Jacob Schave of Bonners Ferry; great-grandchildren Brandon and Denny Neuman, Desirae and Anthony Minor, Brooke and Dustin Drapeau, and Steven, Caleb and Ryan Hanson.

Amelia was preceded in death by her parents and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

Memorials may be made to United Methodist Church or the Senior Hospitality Center in Bonners Ferry.

Family and friends can sign Amelia’s book at www.bonnersferryfuneralhome.com.

Bonners Ferry Funeral Home handled arrangements.