Roena Mankin Mannschreck

Roena Mankin Mannschreck passed away peacefully while surrounded by her family Friday, Feb. 2, 2018, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. Ronnie was born July 25, 1928, on a farm near Trumbull, Neb., to Clinton and Trella Mankin, the youngest of eight children. Growing up during the Great Depression and losing her father at age 7, she developed a strong spirit, mastered self-reliance and learned to delight in simple things.

She attended a one-room school with her brothers for grades 1-8 and remembered wearing her new flour-sack dresses with pride. At Trumbull High School, she demonstrated particular prowess in typing class and was an excellent student, graduating as salutatorian in 1945. Ronnie attended Hastings College for a year while employed at Hastings National Bank, then boarded an Omaha-bound bus to begin nurses' training at the University of Nebraska. While there, she met a handsome young medical student named William Mannschreck, and a lifelong courtship began.

After graduating with her degree as a registered nurse in 1949, she worked in an ear, nose and throat clinic while Bill finished medical school. They married June 10, 1951, and subsequently moved to Chicago for Bill's internship. Ronnie was an obstetrical nurse at Presbyterian Hospital and excelled in her field, becoming the assistant head nurse within a year. Bill's pediatric residency then took them for two years to Denver, where she juggled obstetrical nursing and motherhood after the arrival of their firstborn, Tom.

Bill and Ronnie wanted to put down roots in a place where a pediatrician was most needed, so they moved to Lewiston in 1954 and embraced their new community. Ronnie became a full-time wife and mother, welcoming the births of Molly, John and Bob. She took great joy in nurturing and educating her children. A hands-on mother, Ronnie was a room parent, 4-H leader and Cub Scout den mother. With ingenuity and energy, she established a warm and inviting home. She read many books aloud, sang lots of silly songs and always made holidays special. She was particularly interested in nutrition and cooking and expressed her creativity in the kitchen. Later in life, she used her magical way with babies and children with her grandchildren and was an enthusiastic and extremely proud grandma.

Community involvement was second nature to Ronnie. Soon after moving to Lewiston, she joined what was then the Lewiston Welfare League and served a term as president. Chapter BL of P.E.O. was important to her throughout her adult life, and she made many lifelong friends there. She held different offices over the years, including president, and felt strongly about the scholarship money they provided to local young women. Ronnie also served as a "pink lady" volunteer at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. Ronnie was proud of the town of Lewiston and Lewis-Clark State College. Always interested in education, she took classes in art history and business and was a spirited supporter of the NAIA World Series hosted by LCSC. Active in the First Presbyterian Church in Clarkston, she was an ordained elder, served as the chairman of the building and grounds committee and participated on many levels including painting, organizing and labeling the church kitchen. Their church family has been a great source of spiritual strength and comfort for both Ronnie and Bill.

Ronnie found enjoyment everywhere: ballroom dancing, flower gardening, meadowlarks, camping by a stream and chocolate chip-oatmeal cookies. Several things deserve special mention, however. One of Ronnie's biggest loves was snow skiing. She started skiing in 1960, when boots were leather and skis were wooden. Tom joined her and soon the whole family was taking ski trips to McCall numerous times each winter. Music played a big role in her life. As a child, the piano brought her countless hours of happiness. With a smile, she recounted Christmases when her gifts were an orange and a piece of sheet music. Each of her children took piano lessons and she sat for many hours listening to them practice. Jazz was her favorite genre and those tunes were frequently pouring out of her CD player. Ronnie also loved the game of bridge, both for the intellectual challenge and the social enrichment. She often said she couldn't keep house or raise her kids without the help of her bridge club. Finally, she had a special affinity for dogs and her little dog, Roxie, was a most cherished companion.

Ronnie is survived by her husband of 66 years, Bill; her children, Tom (Barbara), Molly (Matt), John (Cathy) and Bob (Lisa); her grandchildren, Annie (John), Will (Diana), Rachel, Olivia, Sam, Luke, Maureen, Kristin and Erin; and her three great-grandchildren, Lavender, Shane and Roland. She was preceded in death by her parents and her siblings Bertram, Cloyd, Arlene, Izona, Dean, Pete and Blake.

A private family service was held Feb. 4. A celebration of her life will take place at a future date. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests sending memorials to the First Presbyterian Church of Clarkston, 1122 Diagonal St., Clarkston, WA 99403, or Chapter BL, P.E.O., Local Education Award Fund, 2035 13th Street, Lewiston, ID, 83501.