Sarah (Sally) Bates Eckberg

Sarah (Sally) Bates Eckberg

Sarah (Sally) Bates Eckberg died on June 23, 2018 at her Deep Creek home, near Bonners Ferry, Idaho.

To all who knew Sally, she was a fun-loving, dirty joke telling, beautiful soul. Full of life even to her last days. These past years have been tough on all of us with the cruelty of dementia. Sally’s daughter, Sue, provided 24/7 care for her mom for the last two years. A hospice team from Auburn Crest provided wonderful support and care during her final months. Our family is forever thankful for the time she had here on Earth.

Sally was born on Sept. 29, 1931 to O.K. Bates and Francis Westbrook Bates in Ogdensburg, N.Y., and raised in Canton, N.Y. At the age of 16, she enrolled at Saint Lawrence University where she received a bachelor’s degree. She then completed her master’s in psychology at Potsdam College.

After graduation, her first teaching job was in Theresa, N.Y. She often told the story of having 38 children in her first classroom.

Sally married John Arvid Eckberg in 1955 and they resided in Rochester, N.Y., until 1975 when Kodak moved them to Fort Collins, Co. They made their final move to Northern Idaho to be closer to many of their children in 2014. Sally was preceded in death by her husband John, in 2016, and her granddaughter Kirsten in 1999.

Sally is survived by her four children: Susan K Eckberg, Stephen (Jenny), Tom (Nina), Andy (Cassandra). Three Colorado grandchildren: Tom Gray (Corianne), Sarah Gray Stites (Clayton) and John Gray. Seven step-grandchildren who live in Idaho: Chris, Jimmy, Kahaila, Cherokee, Aaron, Milysa, and Cristita. She has numerous great grandchildren in both Colorado and Idaho. Her brother, Westy (Marge), sister-in-law Betty Coverdale and many nieces, nephews, and wonderful friends.

Sally combined her passion for teaching and her love for horses when she mentored many children and adults at their family business of many years, Jolly Ridge Farm in LaPorte, Colo.

A “Remembering Sally” barbecue gathering will be held at 4 p.m. Friday, July 6, at 4419 Deep Creek Loop near Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Any additional remembrances will be determined at a later time.