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Ida Craft Obituary
Ida (Eda) Craft
Born: October 2 1917 - Died: July 10, 2014
Ida was born to Kate and Julius Boettger on 2 Oct 1917 in Findlater, Saskatchewan. Her family was forced by Depression circumstances to move to BC in February 1932. Their cold, ten-day journey began in a freight car which they shared with their livestock. They left the train at Castlegar and continued by barge, up the Arrow Lakes to Edgewood. From there they traveled by horse and sleigh to Needles where they lived for two years with extended family, saving money for a move to Fauquier in April of 1935. There they built a log house, cleared the land, seeded hay and planted a garden and fruit trees. Ida often attributed her hardworking, modest and thrifty character to her no-frills pioneer's upbringing
Ida married William (Bill) Craft February 15, 1937 and moved with him back to Needles. They ran a coffee shop -- the Ferry Café -- for several years in the early 1950's. Ida also ran the Post Office, first in Needles and later in Fauquier, where they moved in 1968 when Needles was flooded with the building of the Keenleyside Dam at Castlegar.
Ida had a wide range of interests and talents. She was a gardener of vegetables and flowers and preserved many a jar of fruit and veggies. She was a great cook, renowned for her doughnuts, cinnamon rolls, bread, hot-cross buns, hermit cookies and Yorkshire pudding. She quickly learned the art of cake decorating, and her art was displayed at many weddings in the area. She loved to fish, crochet and play cards, especially bridge, 500 and crib, and she was unforgiving of miscues by herself and, more pointedly, by others at the card table.
Strong and active all her life, Ida played softball in her early years, a mean game of badminton, and was more-than-competent at bowling and golf. She loved more than anything to dance and was accomplished at foxtrot, waltz, or a lively two-step. Until very recently, she was known for her brisk daily walk and her light step on the dance floor. She was also a long-standing, loyal Toronto Blue Jays fan, convinced that it was only the collusion of the American teams that prevented the Blue Jays from going all the way! She had an adventurous side and travelled widely to England, New Zealand, Japan, Hawaii, Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and, with her sister Tillie, across Canada-driving them both.
Ida was an enthusiastic community member - an active member of the Royal Canadian Legion Auxiliary and the Women's Institute for many years. She contributed to community-based celebrations such as Canada Day, Thanksgiving Day and Remembrance Day, and hosted many memorable Christmas celebrations.
Ida was predeceased by her husband Bill, parents Julius and Kate, brothers Oscar and Gordon, and sisters Alice, Tillie and Winnie. She is survived by daughter Dorothy (Roy) Dixon, of Kamloops, sons, Ed (Marian) of Castlegar and Don (Kate) of Kamloops, nine grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren, brother Robert (Joan) Boettger and many nieces and nephews.
She was a warm and supportive mother, mother-in-law and Nan, and will be deeply missed.
Born: October 2 1917 - Died: July 10, 2014
Ida was born to Kate and Julius Boettger on 2 Oct 1917 in Findlater, Saskatchewan. Her family was forced by Depression circumstances to move to BC in February 1932. Their cold, ten-day journey began in a freight car which they shared with their livestock. They left the train at Castlegar and continued by barge, up the Arrow Lakes to Edgewood. From there they traveled by horse and sleigh to Needles where they lived for two years with extended family, saving money for a move to Fauquier in April of 1935. There they built a log house, cleared the land, seeded hay and planted a garden and fruit trees. Ida often attributed her hardworking, modest and thrifty character to her no-frills pioneer's upbringing
Ida married William (Bill) Craft February 15, 1937 and moved with him back to Needles. They ran a coffee shop -- the Ferry Café -- for several years in the early 1950's. Ida also ran the Post Office, first in Needles and later in Fauquier, where they moved in 1968 when Needles was flooded with the building of the Keenleyside Dam at Castlegar.
Ida had a wide range of interests and talents. She was a gardener of vegetables and flowers and preserved many a jar of fruit and veggies. She was a great cook, renowned for her doughnuts, cinnamon rolls, bread, hot-cross buns, hermit cookies and Yorkshire pudding. She quickly learned the art of cake decorating, and her art was displayed at many weddings in the area. She loved to fish, crochet and play cards, especially bridge, 500 and crib, and she was unforgiving of miscues by herself and, more pointedly, by others at the card table.
Strong and active all her life, Ida played softball in her early years, a mean game of badminton, and was more-than-competent at bowling and golf. She loved more than anything to dance and was accomplished at foxtrot, waltz, or a lively two-step. Until very recently, she was known for her brisk daily walk and her light step on the dance floor. She was also a long-standing, loyal Toronto Blue Jays fan, convinced that it was only the collusion of the American teams that prevented the Blue Jays from going all the way! She had an adventurous side and travelled widely to England, New Zealand, Japan, Hawaii, Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and, with her sister Tillie, across Canada-driving them both.
Ida was an enthusiastic community member - an active member of the Royal Canadian Legion Auxiliary and the Women's Institute for many years. She contributed to community-based celebrations such as Canada Day, Thanksgiving Day and Remembrance Day, and hosted many memorable Christmas celebrations.
Ida was predeceased by her husband Bill, parents Julius and Kate, brothers Oscar and Gordon, and sisters Alice, Tillie and Winnie. She is survived by daughter Dorothy (Roy) Dixon, of Kamloops, sons, Ed (Marian) of Castlegar and Don (Kate) of Kamloops, nine grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren, brother Robert (Joan) Boettger and many nieces and nephews.
She was a warm and supportive mother, mother-in-law and Nan, and will be deeply missed.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Published by Kamloops This Week on Jul. 15, 2014.