Martha Christine Post, 98

Martha Christine Post, 98, of Coeur d'Alene, died Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012. She was born Dec. 26, 1913, the seventh of 10 children, to Conrad J. and Marie (Horch) Schuetz in Adams County, near Ritzville, Wash. Her family moved to the Rathdrum Prairie in 1920. She lived longer than any of her nine brothers and sisters. 

She graduated from Rathdrum High School in 1931, where she met Fred B. Post, great-grandnephew of Frederick Post (founder of Post Falls) in high school and they were married in August 1935. Fred preceded her in death on Jan. 1, 2003. They were married for 67 years. They lived in Rathdrum, Coeur d'Alene, Spokane and moved back to Coeur d'Alene in 1949. Fred had a long career in telephone construction, installation and repair.

Martha was a homemaker and had many hobbies including, cooking, sewing, ceramics, oil and china painting and knitting. Anyone who met Martha certainly has a souvenir of her talents. She fished, hunted and enjoyed the outdoors with her family. She was the backbone of her family and maintained constant contact with relatives and friends, including recent use of a cell phone, reaching out to loved ones even on her last day.

Martha is survived by three daughters, Susan and Harry of Olympia Wash., Nancy and Mike Smith of Pasco, Wash., and Sally and Bill Barlow of Coeur d'Alene; grandchildren, Marie Slosson, Mary and Chuck Hallett, Ann and Rob Stratton, Gail Slosson, Jeff and Joy Herrin, Andrew Herrin, Ryan and Michele Higgins, Patrick Higgins, Tye and Sheryl Barlow, Tom Barlow, Jill and Kasey Smith; great-grandchildren, Ellie and Anneka Herrin, Austin and Alex Higgins, Charles and Jim Hallett, Kendell Stratton, Brianna and Koby Barlow, Kaylee, Anthony, Alex and Mitchell Smith; and many nieces and nephews.

Viewing will held at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 23, 2012, with funeral services to follow at 11 a.m., all at Yates Funeral Home, Coeur d'Alene Chapel. Burial will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 23, 2012, at Pinegrove Cemetery in Rathdrum. A celebration of her life will be held at 3 p.m. at the Eagles Lodge in Coeur d'Alene. Visit Martha's online memorial and sign her guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com. Yates Funeral Homes has been entrusted with the care of final arrangements.