Ida F. Motschenbacher

Ida F. Motschenbacher passed away on January 21, 2022 at Sweet Pea Retirement Home in Grants Pass, Oregon.

Ida was born on May 26, 1925 in La Cygne, Kansas to Floyd and Florence Russell. In 1937 she moved with her family to Fruita, Colorado where she continued her education and graduated from Fruita Union High School in 1943. That summer she moved to Klamath Falls, Oregon to live with an older sister.

Ida was employed as a pharmacy clerk for Waggoner Drug before moving to Portland where she went to work for the telephone company until transferring back to Klamath Falls in late 1946.

During the telephone strike in the spring of 1947 she met her future husband, Gerald Motschenbacher. They were married September 14, 1947 in Klamath Falls. Immediately after the wedding they moved to Grants Pass where Gerald was employed with the telephone company. Ida continued to work for the telephone company until December 1947 when she retired to be a homemaker for the rest of her life. They lived in Grants Pass all their married life.

After Gerald’s retirement in 1979, they enjoyed fishing, hunting, bowling, camping and taking care of their yard. In later years, Ida especially enjoyed feeding the birds and watching the deer that came into her yard.

Ida enjoyed her family, knitting, crocheting and sewing. While in high school, she made all the school dresses for herself and two younger sisters.

Survivors include a daughter, Vicki Alarie (David) and three grandchildren, Greg Alarie (Kimberly), Nicole Rothrock (Matthew) of Grants Pass, and Aimee Friend (William) of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and one sister, Esther Puls (Virgil) of Cortez Colorado, and four great-grandchildren, Jeffrey, Jordan, Jotham, and Jovie Rothrock.

She was preceded in death by her husband in August 2006, and daughter Gerri Motschenbacher in January 2006, six sisters and two brothers.

At her requested there will be no services. She will be laid to rest with her husband at Hillcrest Memorial Park. Hull and Hull Funeral directors are in charge of the arrangements.

The family would like to thank the caregivers at Sweet Pea Retirement home for their love and care over the last year.