Archived Marriage Records
G. Margaret Olin
Goldie Margaret Olin, 78, of Challis, died March 4, 2004 at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center.
She was born October 12, 1925 at Alliance, Ohio to Lewis Szasz and Susie Balogh Szasz. She grew up and attended schools in the area. Following graduation, she earned a degree in Nursing at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio.
On May 24, 1953, she married Kenneth Marshal Olin at Newport Beach, California. She worked as a Registered Nurse. She lived in Newport Beach, California before moving to Challis.
Surviving are niece Jacqueline (Mike) Bilbrey, Lenexa,Illinois, sisters Mary Hebert, Florida; Emma La Fountain, New York; Irene Lower in Alliance, Ohio.
She was preceded in death by her husband; two sisters, Helen Dugan and Susan Korosy, and one brother, George Balogh.
At the request of the family, no services will be held. Local arrangements are under the direction of Wood Funeral Home, 273 N. Ridge Ave. in Idaho Falls.
Lawrence "Mac" McAffee
Lawrence “Mac” McAffee, 83, of Missoula, Montana, passed away January 19, 2004 at Hillside Manor.
He was born January 17, 1921 in Arco to John and Elizabeth McAffee.
Mac used to trade pocket knives with the Native Americans as they traveled through in the 1930s.
Mac married Pearl Bradshaw on Christmas Eve nearly 60 years ago.
Mac was a loving husband and father. He was quiet, gentle and tough when he had to be. He was fair to anyone that knew him.
He loved to camp, fish, hunt, garden and work with wood, on and off the job. He liked, and wanted, his life simple and quiet. Mac’s son loved fishing and camping with him and talking to him about his life. Most of all, his son thanks him.
Mac and Pearl moved from Challis to Corvallis, Montana in 1948 and then to Missoula in 1952. Mac worked at Whitepine Sash for several years and then for Mission Homes. He also helped install the 500 kilowatt power lines in the 1950s. The last five years of his carpentry career were spent working for the University of Montana. He enjoyed carpentry, so he joined the union where he was active for over 40 years.
When he first got to Missoula he bought an old house in Orchard Homes and in his spare time, built a new house next door. The family moved into that house in 1959 where Mac and Pearl stayed until old age problems forced them into Hillside Manor.
He was preceded in death by 11 brothers and sisters. Survivors include his wife, Pearl McAffee of Missoula; his son, Gary McAffee of Alberton; and one sister.
A gathering for friends was held January 24.
Ruth Kalenik
Ruth Kalenik passed away at a hospital in Oregon City after having a knee operation. Ruth and her husband Pete moved to Thompson Creek in the late 1970s to a log home on the bank of the Salmon River.
Both Pete and Ruth worked at Cyprus Mines. They have many friends in this area, from Smiley Creek to Salmon.
A few years ago, they moved to Oregon City, Oregon. Ruth loved to garden and grow beautiful flowers. They returned every year to Challis for the Bill Millick Golf Tournament and to visit friends.
Ruth especially liked Main Street of Challis and visited all the shops and businesses when they were here.
She will be missed.
Cremation has taken place. There will be no services.
Jesse Gerald Nicholson
Jesse Gerald Nicholson, 87, a resident of Filer, lost his fight with leukemia and answered his Lord’s call on Friday, February 20, 2004 at 11:19 p.m. at Magic Valley Regional Medical Center in Twin Falls.
Gerald was born April 1, 1916 southeast of Filer. He was the oldest of four children born to Jesse Warner and Anna Ivan (McGill) Nicholson. In 1919 his family moved to the Northside via a ferry on the Snake River above Shoshone Falls where he was raised on a ranch in the Sugar Loaf area east of Jerome. He attended grade school at the Sugar Loaf School and Jerome graduating from Jerome High School in 1935.
After graduation Gerald worked in the Magic Valley area in various jobs tied to the agricultural industry. In 1941 he married Ruth Geisler and they moved back to the family ranch working with his father. Gerald and Ruth had two sons, Gary and Don.
In 1954 Gerald moved his family to Jerome and worked for several years as an equipment operator and foreman in the road construction industry assisting on many of the projects in the intermountain west. During his years in the Jerome area he was a member of the Sugar Loaf Grange, Jerome Moose Lodge and the Jerome Rod and Gun Club. After several years of roadwork Gerald had a career change so he could be closer to his family. Gerald became a carpenter working for Volco in Jerome. Gerald’s wife died in 1958 and he was faced with the challenge of being a single parent.
In 1962 Gerald married Freda (Lintz-Garrison) of Twin Falls and his new blended family gave him two daughters, Hazel and Susan. The family lived in Jerome and Gerald continued his work in the construction industry.
Gerald’s love for “Stanley Basin” began as a young adult when he and his brothers frequently hunted and fished in the area and his love for the area grew even more after he was able to live there. In 1964 Gerald and Freda purchased property and lived in the Sawtooth Valley south of Stanley where Gerald continued his contractor’s work in the Stanley area during the summer and in the Twin Falls area in the winter.
During the late 1960's before the creation of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, Gerald was president of the Sawtooth Valley Association, an organization of landowners that studied the issues concerning the future of the area. The group opposed the National Park concept and supported the creation of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area (SNRA). The SNRA concept would allow hunting and other multiple uses in the Stanley area to continue while protecting the natural beauty for the future generations.
Gerald was a member and officer in the Salmon River Snowmobile Club and helped lay out race courses for the many snowmobile races held in the Sawtooth Valley during the 1960s and ‘80s.
In 1971 Gerald and his wife purchased the C.A. Gregory building in Stanley, building a laundromat, providing lease spaces for the Stanley Post office and living in an apartment in the rear of the building while Gerald maintained his construction business. Gerald took training to become an EMT and assisted with the construction of the first Salmon River Emergency Medical Clinic building in Stanley. In 1972 Gerald expanded their business property to house the Sawtooth Gem Shop that was operated by his brother-in-law Frank Lintz.
During this time in Stanley Gerald was appointed to fill a vacancy in the Stanley City Council and was later elected to that position. After serving his city council term he was elected mayor. He also served on the board of the Custer County Development Association. During his six-year term the city of Stanley obtained land and built the Community Center in Stanley, a local sewer district system was established, and 40 acres of BLM ground was obtained for use by the city where a portion of the property is the site for the Stanley Elementary School and the Sawtooth Chapel. The chapel is used by several denominations serving the community and visitors to the area.
Gerald donated many hours of personal time laying out the chapel and coordinating its construction.
In 1978 after being trained in the art of lapidary and jewelry making, he took over operation of the Gem Shop while he and his wife continued operating the laundromat.
Gerald and Freda sold the business and building in 1994 and purchased property in the Filer area starting their retirement. In 1996 Gerald joined the Filer Senior Haven Senior Center and served on the board as a member and as president. In 1998 Gerald answered a call in his life and became a member of Peace Lutheran Church in Filer, which included services on Sunday and Monday Senior Bible Study that became his passion.
Gerald enjoyed his family, his church, and the view from the front porch of their house. Interests included fishing, hunting, carpentry, metal working and vehicle repair and maintenance.
He is survived by his wife Freda of Filer, son Gary (Laura) of Tacoma, Wa., son Don (Margo) of Boise, daughter Hazel Schutte of Twin Falls, daughter Susan (Brent) Stastny of Murtaugh, 12 grandchildren, 21 great-grand-children, his brother Delmer (Adele) Nicholson of Boise and Yuma, AZ, sister-in-law Martha Nicholson of Polson, MT and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Mollyo Freeman, and his brother Dwight Nicholson.
Gerald’s funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 28 at Peace Lutheran Church in Filer, followed by internment at the Filer Cemetery
and a celebration of life with family and friends at Peace Lutheran Church. Pastor Gary Benedix will be officiating. Services are under the direction of the Parke’s Magic Valley Funeral Home of Twin Falls.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be sent to the Peace Lutheran Church Building Fund.
Virginia Sue Sullivan
Virginia Sue Sullivan, 74, of Twin Falls, formerly of Clayton and Challis, Idaho, passed away February 15, 2004 at the Magic Valley Regional Medical Center in Twin Falls.
She was born December 30, 1929 in Thornton, Arkansas, the daughter of Harry and Ollie Russell Wright.
She was a hard worker all her life and enjoyed cooking and serving others. While working at the Flying B Ranch as a cook, she met Bill Sullivan. In 1971 she and Bill moved to Clayton, to own and operate the Silver Bar and the Clayton Motel. They worked there until retiring and moving to Challis. After Bill’s passing in August of 2000, she moved the following May to Twin Falls to be closer to her family.
Surviving are her children Sandee (Robert) Taylor of Tempe, Arizona, Tom Henson of Kimberly, Shiela King of Twin Falls, Teri (Gary) Wilson of Jerome, Diane (Jack) Frey of Buhl, Mike (Cindra) Henson of Buhl, one sister, Louise Bivens of Jackson, Tennessee, along with Bill’s children, Tom, Phil, Carolyn, Connie and Terry, as well as numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill Sullivan, daughter Judy, brothers Clifton and Jack Wright, sisters and brothers-in-law, Quinola and Dan Denny, Eva and Jay Holt and nephew Richard. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.
A service of remembrance was held Wednesday, February 18 at Parke’s Magic Valley Funeral Home, 2551 Kimberly Rd., Twin Falls with Mike D. Parke officiating. At her request, private family inurnment will follow at a later date.
Edna McGown
A grand lady, loving and caring mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend left us on February 6, 2004.
Edna McGown was born on November 22, 1906 in Stanley, Idaho to Ellen Martin and Leslie Niece. She had many fond memories of life in the Stanley Basin and Sawtooth Valley.
On November 27, 1924 she married A.W. “Tuff” McGown of Challis and together they hiked the mountains always prospecting for “their” gold mine in the sky. Custer became their home in summer and Challis in the winter. In 1961 Edna and Tuff established the Custer Museum in memory of their son Art. The museum was later sold to the U.S. Forest Service and it continues to operate, bringing pleasure to many people each summer.
Edna turned the first shovel of dirt to begin construction of the Yankee Fork Interpretive Center in Challis. She co-authored two books of the Salmon River and Yankee Fork country and authored an additional two books. In 1999 she received the Esto Perpetua award from the Idaho State Historical Society for her significant contributions to Idaho history.
Mrs. McGown was preceded in death by her husband Tuff McGown, a son Art McGown, a daughter Adelaide Walters, one brother Rupert Niece. Edna is survived by her daughter Edna Mae (George) Jukich of Twin Falls, her granddaughter Lori (John) Head and their two children Lacey and Alex Head all of Pocatello, and many good friends.
Until we meet again, thanks Mom for all these years of love and caring. We all love you, Mom and will miss you so much.
Funeral services will be held Monday, February 16, 2004 at 1:00 p.m. at the American Legion Hall in Challis. Interment will follow in the Challis Cemetery.
The family suggests memorials in Edna’s name to the Challis Interpretive Center. Contributions may be mailed to Reynolds Funeral Chapel, P.O. Box 1142, Twin Falls, ID 83303 or left with funeral chapel staff at the services.
