Rose M. Rae, 66

Rose Marie Rae, 66, of Grangeville, passed away Saturday, June 16, 2007, after a year long battle with throat cancer. She had been a breast cancer survivor since 1999. The two cancers were unrelated.

The daughter of John and Dena Terpstra Long, Rose was born at the family farm west of Grangeville on October 18, 1940. Being an only child, her first loyal and long suffering playmate was her pet calico, thus beginning her lifelong fondness for cats.

One room country schools were still in existence when the first grade called. Rose enrolled at the Tolo Lake School in September, 1946 with a mix of ten students in grades 1 through 8. The country schools were closed in mid-October, 1949 and the Tolo Lake students were bused to Grangeville. It was quite a shock for Rose to now be in class with everyone the same age, studying the same subjects. Following graduation from Grangeville High School in 1958, Rose attended the University of Idaho for a year and a half.

Rose was married to Jim Rae at Lewiston on December 29, 1959. They made their home in Grangeville for their entire married life.

On April Fool’s Day in 1957, Rose began an after school job at the Grangeville JC Penney store. It was definitely no joke, as she was still with Penney’s when the store closed in December of 1988. She worked for eight different managers during that time and enjoyed all aspects of the job. After the closure of Penney’s, Rose joined her husband, Jim, at Rae Brothers Sporting Goods. That job was enjoyable too, as it was a “people” experience with great customers from both near and far. Rose and Jim sold the business in December of 2005.

A member of Mt. Queen Chapter #11, Order of the Eastern Star from 1970 to 2004, Rose served as Worthy Matron in 1975. She also served as Bethel Guardian of Job’s Daughters Bethel #26 from 1983 to 1985.

Barely missing a meeting of the Grangeville Retail Merchants Committee, she enjoyed helping with the Sportsmen’s Show and Chili Cook-off. She recently became a baptized member of the Grangeville Christian Church.

Survivors include her husband, Jim, at the Idaho State Veteran’s Home in Lewiston; a son, Ben, of Post Falls; a daughter, Kathy Ackerman and husband, Bob, of Grangeville; and grandchildren, Kristen, Alex and Gabriel Ackerman, all of Grangeville. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, June 20, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. at Blackmer Funeral Home in Grangeville with burial to follow at Prairie View Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Animal Ark, PO Box 412, Grangeville, ID 83530, Sts. Peter & Paul School, 320 South B Street, Grangeville, ID 83530 or Syringa General Hospice, 607 West Main, Grangeville, ID 83530.

Send condolences to the family at Blackmerfuneralhome.com.