Obituary: Queener, Madaline Margaret (Gerry) (Age 95)
She passed away March 22, 2013, in Spokane Valley, WA.
For the first ten years her family moved to many places, at times living in the Seattle area, Kennewick and San Francisco.
When Madaline was ten years old, her mother moved the family from San Francisco to her hometown of Rathdrum, ID.
A year later her mother married Frank Roth, and then moved the family to Twin Lakes, ID.
Madaline attended the University of Idaho, majoring in education with a minor in music.
She hemmed sheets and towels for the University to pay for her room and board.
In the summer she worked as a flunky in the camp kitchen for Potlatch at Headquarters.
She taught school in Pierce, ID for three years, claiming she taught every grade from first to twelfth.
She met her husband, Tom, at a roller skating rink in Orofino, ID.
They married in December 1941.
Madaline finished out the year teaching as her husband had been drafted and was sent back east for training.
After their first child was born Madaline joined her husband, now stationed in Los Angeles, CA.
Their second child was born in LA.
After the war they moved to Stanfield, OR where Tom’s parents lived and the third child was born.
Later they moved back to Idaho where their fourth and fifth children were born.
In 1955, while living in Spirit Lake, ID Madaline returned to teaching, and two years later began teaching fourth grade at Otis Orchards Elementary in the Spokane Valley.
She also taught French and Special Education, and retired from the East Valley School District in 1979 as an elementary librarian.
Madaline especially loved playing piano and resumed taking piano lessons for nearly 30 years in retirement.
She also enjoyed reading, camping, traveling and gardening.
Madaline was a docent for years at the Campbell house; she also volunteered with English as a Second Language.
She served for many years as treasurer of her local Friends of the Library.
In her later years, Madaline was active in the league of Women Voters, as well as, a supporter of various progressive political opinions.
Her forthrightness will be missed.
Madaline is preceded in death by her husband, Tom Queener; brothers, Charles Gerry and Conrad Roth; and sister, Susie Roth.
She is survived by her five children, Gerry, Doris, Carolyn, Lorraine, and Steven Queener; sisters, Betty Howell and Jeanette Johnson; brothers, Gus and David Roth; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
The family wishes to thank Providence VNA Home Health and Hospice of Spokane for all their help.
Memorial donations may be made in lieu of flowers to Hospice of Spokane, 121 S. Arthur St, Spokane, WA, 99202.
Community Cremation and Funeral Spokane Valley 13127 E. Sprague, Spokane Valley, WA 99216 509-926-2020 www.CommunityCremationandFuneral.com