Elizabeth Rath

March 28, 1943 - January 31, 2023 Meridian, ID ? Elizabeth "Beth" (Galvin) Rath passed away at home in Meridian, ID, on January 31, 2023, from complications of dementia. She was born on March 28, 1943, in Richmond, IN, to Richard and Dorothy "Lucille" (Kilgore) Galvin.

Beth grew up in Sarasota, FL, graduating from Sarasota High School in 1961. She and Michael "Mike" Rath married on May 23, 1964. Beth worked as a medical receptionist and bookkeeper for numerous physicians as she moved with her family to Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Utah during Mike's career with the U.S. Forest Service. Beth was a true "green thumb" tending the home garden and landscape flowers. The beautiful red blooms of Christmas Cactus were always on display decorating the windows inside their homes. She loved birdwatching, in particular hummingbirds. While living in Dillon, MT she attracted dozens of hummingbirds at her feeders and they would often sit on her hands.The Rath family were avid campers and enjoyed the natural beauty of the western U.S. and Canada. Those who knew Beth will associate her mostly with arts and crafts, as she was skilled in small clay sculpting, wheat weaving, knitting, sewing, and most notably: quilting! She was an active member of Boise Basin Quilters, Nita's Needlers, and Saturday Stitchers. Her generous heart supported many organizations including Boise's Women's and Children's Alliance and Women's Veterans' groups. She particularly loved making baby blankets for Project Linus, an organization that provides new, handmade blankets to comfort children living through difficult situations. After retiring, Beth and Mike became snowbirds, spending time in Arizona, Texas, and Florida, meeting up with dear friends, serving as campground hosts, and never missing an opportunity to browse the local quilting stores. A highlight during retirement was a visit to her ancestral country of Ireland. Beth and Mike moved to Meridian, ID in 1996, where their home became the gathering place for family events and celebrations. The Raths have always been dog people and over the last two decades Beth and Mike rescued four yellow labrador retrievers. Beth was a loving grandmother and enjoyed spending time with her five grandchildren and great-grandson.

She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Michael Louis Rath of Meridian, ID; their three children, Robert (Kathleen) Rath of Bozeman, MT, Andrew Rath of Meridian, ID, and Michele (Travis) Rath-Porter of Boise, ID; their grandchildren Emma (Isaac) Rath, Lucy Rath, Sophie Rath, Julia Porter, and Thomas Rath; their great-grandson Henry Rath; and her sister, Kathleen (Galvin) Volonis of Sarasota, FL.

Beth was preceded in death by her parents of Sarasota, FL, and her brother, Joseph Daniel Galvin, of Ocala, FL.

As a spouse of a U.S. military veteran, Beth will be interred at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery in Boise. A celebration of life will be held in her honor later this year. To celebrate Beth, consider reading her favorite book, "Follow the River" by James Alexander Thom. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations made to either the Alzheimer's Association or Boise's Women's and Children's Alliance.