Velda Mae (Vawter) Hogaboam, 93, passed away peacefully at Life Care of Lewiston Thursday, Nov. 24, 2016.

Velda was born July 31, 1923, to Arthur and Gladys Vawter in Culdesac. Being the first child, from an early age she took care of and was responsible for her younger siblings. She liked to tell about being so small she had to stand on a stool to wash dishes, always wishing for more hot water and saying how blessed we are to now have hot running water. Sometimes she and two of her siblings rode the horse to school. She attended school in Culdesac, graduating in 1941.

She met Hubert Merril Hogaboam while she was still in school and he was working for the highway department. They were married Dec. 13, 1940, at Kellogg, Idaho. Velda's diary entry for Dec. 13, 1940, reads in part, "Our Wedding Day. I love Merril very much. I'm sure we'll be happy." On Jan. 6, 1941, she wrote, "I'm Mrs. Hogaboam at school now. They have plenty to say about it!"

Merril and Velda began their married life as farmers. Between March of 1942 and September of 1950, Velda gave birth to five children; four boys and one girl and nicknamed them Terry, Micki, Corky, Roddy and Bunky. The family faithfully attended church and usually spent Sunday afternoons visiting with extended family. One of their children still has a pin received for four years of perfect attendance at Culdesac Community Church. The Lord was honored in their home, Christian values taught, grace said at mealtimes and prayers at bedtime.

Velda had begun making her own clothes at age 13 and eagerly taught her only daughter to sew. There were many farm animals and a big vegetable garden every year to tend. Velda canned thousands of jars of produce for her family. Some of her children remember waking early on summer mornings to the sound of Velda hoeing the garden. One morning they heard her anguished cry upon her discovery that the ducks had just finished going down the rows of fledgling carrot tops, eating every single one. She was a loving wife and mother who put her family first. She also was very generous, sacrificing her own time and resources to meet the needs of others.

In 1955, Merril contracted polio and was never again able to farm. This changed life for the family. Velda took a job outside the home with the Lapwai School District. While working this job, she was allowed time to take classes at Lewis-Clark Normal School (now Lewis-Clark State College). She received degrees, after many years of summer school, from "Normal" and the University of Idaho, first a bachelor's degree and later a master's degree. Velda taught at Lapwai one year before she and Merril began teaching together at Reubens in 1961. In 1962, they moved to Grangeville where they both taught until they retired. She taught at the junior high school level and then became the elementary/junior high school librarian. Velda had the responsibility and the privilege of establishing a completely new school library after a fire destroyed the old one. She always loved to read, so a library full of books, children coming in and out to check out books and listen to "Mrs. Hogaboam" read to them was a real delight to her heart.

Velda enjoyed traveling with Merril during their summer vacations. They made extended trips in the United States, Canada, the Northwest Territories and Alaska. After both she and Merril retired, they became "snow birds" and spent several winters in Arizona with some of her siblings. As Merril's post-polio syndrome progressed, Velda became his devoted caregiver. In 1995, they moved from Grangeville to Lewiston. They celebrated their 72 years of marriage about three months before Merril passed away in March of 2013.

Through the years, Velda and Merril attended the Culdesac Community Church, the Presbyterian Church in Lapwai, the United Methodist Church of Grangeville and Orchards Community Church of Lewiston. She appreciated and attended the Sunday services held at Life Care each week while she lived there.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Hubert Merril Hogaboam; parents Arthur and Gladys Vawter; and siblings Marvin, Irene and Teddy Vawter. She is survived by her children, Terrence "Terry" (Judy) Hogaboam, Merrilee "Micki" (Richard) Robinson, Forrest "Corky" (Sharon) Hogaboam, Rodney "Rod" (Lorraine) Hogaboam, and Hubert "Bunk" (Trudy) Hogaboam. She is also survived by 13 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. Also surviving are her siblings, Melba Ashburn, Glenn (Laura) Vawter, Ellis (Gladys) Vawter, Erma (Sinclair "Dutch") Hund, and Arvin "Skip" (Kay) Vawter and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family extends their heartfelt thanks to all the caregivers at Life Care Center for the excellent care they provided Velda for the past three-and-a-half years.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in Velda's memory may be given to ALACCA Bible Conference, P.O. Box 232, Grangeville, ID 83530.

Viewing is from 9 a.m. until noon followed by services at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Vassar-Rawls Funeral Home.

Service Information

Date & Time

Thursday, December 8, 1:30 PM

Location

Vassar-Rawls Funeral Home
920-21st Avenue
Lewiston, Idaho 83501

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Additional Details

Viewing will be from 9 - 12:00 p.m.

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