Elaine Marie Atchison, 93

Elaine Marie Atchison

Sept. 14, 1928 — Sept. 5, 2022

Elaine was born in Tama, Iowa, to George and Kathrine Eberhart on Sept. 14, 1928. She later married John Atchison on May 15, 1944, while he was in the Army Air Corps. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband in 2016.

Elaine and John were blessed with four children. The family moved from Iowa to Rathdrum, Idaho, in 1955 and raised their children there. Elaine and John continued to work together for many years from the '60s through the '80s at Ponsness Warren Reloading Company in Rathdrum.

Her life revolved around her children. She was well-known for her wonderful home-cooked delights — the favorites being: fried fish, chicken and dumplings, goulash, pork sauerkraut and, best of all, her famous apple dumplings.

She also lived in various towns throughout the region such as Joseph, Weiser, Post Falls and Harrison. Weiser is where her gardening efforts paid off substantially by providing freshly picked vegetables and fruit. Her favorite pastime was fishing. She would share her many labors of love, such as canned fish. Her catfish parties were especially phenomenal.

Although she spent many hours on the lake, few people knew she could not swim.

Through her disciplines and efforts, she passed along special attributes and ideals to her children and grandchildren alike and all those that knew her. She always demonstrated and stressed the importance of commitment, the value of keeping routines, schedules and hard work. It was a simple code that she lived by and although she may have appeared a simple woman, she was anything but. She was definitely a class act.

She loved travel and adventures of any sort, especially when it came to visiting her children. She visited numerous places throughout the U.S. and competed in trap shooting events as well. Some of her travels outside the United States included Canada, Mexico, Grenada, The Netherlands, France, Belgium and Germany. Being a beer lover, she really enjoyed Octoberfest.

Although Elaine experienced many adventures, she had to retire early due to ill health. She carried this burden with extreme dignity. All who knew her were continuously impressed with her immeasurable ability to remain positive and steadfast.

She always expressed this positive energy and her standard reply to any situation or circumstance was “no problem.” She laughed and smiled her way easily through the numerous health and other struggles of life.

She will always be remembered for her strength and wisdom on so many levels as she faced these rigors and challenges daily. She will be regarded and recognized as the essence of what is considered the extraordinary qualities of a “real queen.” She was regal in every way.

As the matriarch of the family, she made you feel loved and fundamentally important.

She will forever remain a positive role model to her family, friends and all who knew her … forever loved, missed and respected by all!

She leaves behind a wonderful legacy and extended family: Dave Atchison and his wife, Lynn; John Atchison Jr. and his wife, Karen; Connie Hammond and husband Jack; Bonnie Woodrich and husband Tom. She was also very proud of them which included: 13 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren.

A celebration of her life will be held on Oct. 15 for family and close friends.