Elsie L. Catlin Bales

Rupert Idaho—Elsie L. Catlin Bales, 95 year old resident of Rupert, passed away Tuesday, May 5th, with her family by her side.Elsie was born August 29th, 1919 to Quartus Sparks Catlin and Sarah Jane Jones Catlin at Hardesty Creek, Utah she was the 9th of 12 children. The family moved to Oakley, Idaho and mom had a wonderful childhood riding horses, playing games and pulling pranks on her siblings and everyone else. She attended schools in Oakley and graduated from Oakley High School with the “Class of 37”. Following graduation she attended the Weiser Technical College in Weiser, Idaho. It was at Weiser that she met her man, Bill Bales from Kuna, Idaho. Following their engagement and graduation from Weiser Tech. Bill enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp and left for his assignment in the service of his country. Elsie found employment at Kings Variety Store in Burley, Idaho for a time and then moved to Boise, where she was employed by the State of Idaho at the capital building. She was very proud of her service to the state. While Bill was stationed at Ft. Lewis, Washington they were married in Tacoma on August 7, 1942. Following their marriage, dad was sent to Fairbanks, Alaska and mom returned to Boise to work. They welcomed their daughter Linda to the family shortly before the end of WW II.Following dad’s discharge from the service their little family moved to Kuna and farmed for a short time. Mom and Dad had many adventures through Dad’s employment, they worked for the U.S. Forest Service for a time and lived at Warm Lake, the Gold Fork Lookout and at Cascade, Idaho. Dad went to work for Idaho Power in 1956 and they lived at Swan Falls Dam in the summer and Kuna in the winter so Linda could go to school in Kuna. During the winter when Linda was in school mom worked at the school lunchroom and loved to serve the students who came to eat every day. Eventually, Mom and Dad transferred to Hagerman, Idaho and lived at the Upper Salmon Power Plant. Mom loved Hagerman and made many life long friendships there. Mom became grandma to Tim then Chad and they were the light of her life. In 1981 Dad retired and they moved to Rupert to be near Linda’s family. Grandma enjoyed watching her grandson’s baseball games and never missed a game. Mom loved crafts of all kinds and made many beautiful things. One of her favorites was Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus sets that she made from bowling pins. She made many patchwork quilts and loved giving them away to friends and family. She loved games and was a serious card player. She was always coaxing her nieces and nephews to play cards with her. For many years she and her sisters would get together every Friday to play cards. Her family was everything to her. She always raised a garden and had beautiful flowers. She was an avid bowler and bowled well into her 80’s, she loved to camp, go for rides in the mountains with her family and go for walks around Rupert with her dear friend Donna Badger. Mom was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She liked to tell how she was baptized in a cold canal in Oakley. She had many callings in the church, her favorites were being a Primary teacher and a visiting teacher. She looked forward to her Rupert 7th Ward visiting teachers Connie Haines and Mae Butterfield who faithfully visited her every month. Following an accident she moved to Autumn Haven Assisted Living. She was the mother hen there and always wanted to help the other residents. She loved playing Dominoes and Bingo with her Autumn Haven friends and any visitors that she could talk in to playing games with them. “Feisty” is the word everyone uses to describe her and she was! Elsie is survived by her sister, Ora Harris of Midland, Michigan. Herdaughter and son-in-law, Linda and George Pethtel of Rupert; grandsons, Tim Pethtel and Chad Pethtel, of Rupert; great grandchildren, Amber, Tel (Crystal) and Libby Pethtel of Kuna; and great great granddaughters, Allie Joe Norby and Maddelyn Pethtel and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Bill, her parents, brothers; Lloyd, Garnet, Emery and Del; sisters; Stella, Myrtle, Ida, Hazel and Midge and a great grandson, Tyrel Pethtel.A visitation for family and friends will be Sunday, May 10th, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the LDS Church, 806 G Street in Rupert. A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, May 11th at the Rupert Cemetery, 450 N. Meridian Rd., Rupert.The family would like to thank the “Angel girls” at Autumn Haven for the tender loving care they gave mom even when she wasn’t so lovable. The nurses at Minidoka Home Health & Hospice for the care and support to mom and Linda and her family during her final illness.Arrangements are under the care and direction of Cache Valley Mortuary, Kim Godfrey. In lieu of flowers please make donations to a favorite charity.Those wishing to share memories and condolences may do so through the Cache Valley Mortuary website.