Lena J. May (Haskett) was born to Lula and Bert Haskett on Sept. 22, 1927, in Brookshire, Texas. Lena died April 24, 2013, at Regency Courtyard Retirement Facility in Coeur d’Alene. She was the sixth born of 10 children.

Near the start of World War II she moved with her family to Washington. They lived in the Seattle area during the war and then settled in the Yakima Valley. Lena met Elby C. (Bud) May at the skating rink upstairs in the old Montgomery Ward Building in downtown Yakima, Wash., in 1945. In June 1946 they were married and lived briefly in Yakima before settling in Selah, Wash. Three children, a son (Joseph) in 1947; a daughter (Lojan) in 1948; and a daughter (Laura) in 1949, arrived in quick succession. Lena began working in fruit warehouses about the time her kids started school and continued for many years.

In 1953 she and Bud were introduced to Square Dancing which became a life-changing event. Bud became a square-dance caller and over many years they traveled throughout western Canada and the United States to square dance.

They were totally committed to the Wagon Wheelers Square Dance Club in Yakima. They had a recreation room added to their home and taught hundreds to square dance in that room over many years. State and National Square Dance Conventions were summer vacations. Bud and Lena were twice the recipients of the prestigious “Parker” award for their involvement and contributions to square dancing.

Lena worked as a checker at Mead’s Thriftway in the Viking Village in Selah when it first opened. After Bud’s sudden death in 1974; Lena continued working at several locations in the Yakima area including Brown’s Market, Providence Hospital and several assisted living retirement facilities. A few years after Bud’s death Lena did remarry. She and Glenn Bateman were married for a few years but that ended in divorce.

Health issues forced Lena to retire in 1999 and she chose to move to the Coeur d’Alene area to live near her daughter. Lena enjoyed the North Idaho area where many new friends were made.

Lena was preceded in death by her first husband, Bud; her parents; four sisters and three brothers. She is survived by her three children, Joe (Melony) May of Yakima, Jan (John) Krakenberg of Hayden Lake and Laura (Randy) Hunter of Dallas, Ore.; one sister, Clara (Athel) May of Selah and one brother, Raymond (Edie) Haskett of Tooele, Utah. She has seven grandchildren, Sharla (James) Georgis, Kristen (Greg) Kangas, Jerin (Tonya) May, JO Krakenberg, Kori (Josh) Cantrell, Bryce (Karen) Covey and Marci (Adam) Raymond; 11 great-grandchildren, Molly and Brenna Georgis, Seth Kangas, Emily, Addison, and Cade Cantrell, Amber, Tanner, Ashley and Trenton Covey, and Jayde Raymond.

A heart-felt and sincere thank-you goes to Dr. Pataky and Dr. Schmitt for their unwavering and exemplary health care provided to Mom over many years. River City Hospice in Post Palls provided fantastic services for Mom and the entire family over the final weeks. Our love and undying gratitude goes to the fabulous and dedicated staff of Regency Courtyard Retirement Facility in Coeur d’Alene for their care, love and concern for our Mom.

There will be a brief graveside service for family and friends at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 11, 2013, in The Terrace Heights Memorial Park in Yakima. A reception to celebrate Lena’s life will follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to: River City Hospice, 3726 East Mullan Ave., Post Falls, ID 83854.

Yates Funeral Home has been entrusted with the care of final arrangements.

Please visit Lena’s online memorial at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com and sign her guest book.