A memorial service for Hilda M. Owens, 85, will be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Freeze Church, with the Rev. Lee Nicholson officiating. Mrs. Owens died Monday, Jan. 3, 2011, at the Gritman Medical Center in Moscow. There will be a covered-dish dinner served at the Palouse River Community Center in Princeton following the service.
She was born May 11, 1925, at Potlatch, to Hans and Addie Fuller Beplate. She attended her schooling at the Burden Country School.
Hilda married Lester A. Owens Nov. 15, 1942, at Potlatch, and the couple made their home at Onaway. Hilda was employed at Pullman Laundry for several years before moving to Fernwood.
The couple moved to Fernwood in 1966, and she was employed at the Valley Vista Care Center in St. Maries as a cook; at the same time the couple also owned and operated the cafe in Emida, Idaho, for four years. The couple moved back to Potlatch in 1981 and to Onaway in 2000, where they have lived since. Hilda was employed at the Log-Inn and Potlatch Senior Center for a number of years.
Hilda was a member of the Faith Full Gospel Church in Onaway, the Potlatch Senior Center, the Princeton Grange, Working Women and the Gritman Medical Center Auxiliary.
Survivors include her husband of 68 years, Lester A. Owens of Onaway; three sons, Duane Owens and his wife Linda of Onaway, David Owens and his wife Leona of Raymondville, Mo., and Raymond Owens and his wife Charlie of Spirit Lake, Idaho; one daughter, Mary Ann Hendrix and her husband Dennis of Onaway; one sister, Helen Rush of Spokane; and a special friend, Dorothy McKinney. She also is survived by nine grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be given to the Potlatch Ambulance Fund, P.O. Box 63, Potlatch, ID 83855; or to the Humane Society in Moscow.
Kramer Funeral Home of Palouse is handling the arrangements.
