Peggy Mae Odenthal, 92, of Coeur d'Alene, passed away Friday, July 15, 2011 with her beloved family and cat, Scooter, by her side.

Peggy was born June 8, 1919, in Valley City, N.D., to Florence and Jack Chase. She grew up on a ranch outside of Killdeer, N.D., with her mother and three sisters, where she developed her love of animals. The family moved to the city of Killdeer so the girls could go to high school. There she met her high school sweetheart, and future husband, Alvin L. Odenthal. Peggy shared many stories about her childhood on the ranch, and reminisced of her teen years living in the small farming community. She graduated from Killdeer High School in 1938, and in 1939 she was crowned Miss Rodeo Queen of North Dakota.

Peggy married Alvin Odenthal on Dec. 2, 1940, a marriage that lasted until Alvin's death in 1993. Their first child, Loretta, was born in 1941. When WWII broke out, Alvin joined the Navy. Peggy moved closer to her Mother and sisters during the war years and they shared babysitting and other household chores while their husbands were away at war. It was during this time she developed a love of cooking. In 1943, her second child, Keith, was born. The family stayed in Killdeer until 1948, then they moved to Los Angeles. The big city life never suited them, so after only one year they moved to Columbia Falls, Mont., and eventually settled in Coeur d'Alene in 1951. They were blessed with three more children: Brian, Nickie and Sybil. Upon arriving in Coeur d'Alene, Peggy knew this was where she wanted to live and raise her family. Peggy and Alvin opened Coeur d'Alene Auto Parts (NAPA) and made Coeur d'Alene their home for the rest of their lives.

Peggy devoted her life to her family. She especially enjoyed family reunions with her sisters and their families, and spending time at the city park and beach. She spent many joyous years raising her family; attending most all of the events that her children were involved in. Peggy continued making it to games played by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren until a few months before her death. She enjoyed spending time at the family lake property on Lake Coeur d'Alene with family and friends, playing cards, playing golf at the Ponderosa Springs Golf Course, traveling with her daughters, dancing with her husband at the Elks and Eagles, and spending winters in Sun City, Ariz. Above all, she cherished family get-togethers the most; the latest was her 92nd birthday party in June.

Peggy was preceded in death by her parents Florence and Jack Chase; husband Alvin L. Odenthal; daughter Loretta Waide; and sisters Harriet Slama and Doris Gunwall.

She is survived by her sister Gwen Kessler of Colorado Springs, Colo.; sons Keith (Aurelina) Odenthal and Brian (Janice) Odenthal of Coeur d'Alene; daughters Nickie Odenthal and Sybil McCormack of Coeur d'Alene; grandchildren: Eric (Tonya) Waide, David (Kecia) Odenthal of Coeur d'Alene, Joel Odenthal of Wasilla, Alaska, Chad (Leslie) Odenthal of Hayden, Kristin Odenthal of Istanbul, Turkey, and Casey McCormack of Coeur d'Alene; great-grandchildren: Chantal and Brittani Waide, and Alex Odenthal of Coeur d'Alene, Quinten and Carriera Odenthal of Wasilla, Alaska, and Brooke and Luke Odenthal of Hayden. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to give special thanks to the staff of Kootenai Medical Center and Hospice of North Idaho for their loving care.

A celebration of Peggy's life will be held at the Elks Lodge, 1170 W. Prairie Ave. in Coeur d'Alene, on Monday, July 25, from 2 to 6 p.m.

Memorial contributions can be sent to the Kootenai Humane Society, P.O. Box 1005, Hayden, ID, 83835 or to Hospice of North Idaho, 9493 N. Government Way, Hayden, ID, 83835.

Please visit Peggy's online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com