For the week of  September 12 - 18, 2001

Valley teacher celebrated as an inspiration

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By DANA DUGAN
Express Staff Writer

Inspiring people is not an easy task and yet it is taken up generationally by many, and mostly they are teachers.

One such teacher was Gretchen Lapeyre.

She taught French and History at the Bellevue High School until it closed in the early 1960s and then taught at the Hailey High School until retiring in 1971.

Lapyrere passed away in June, and to celebrate her life, her only child, Anne Zauner, is hosting a gathering on Saturday evening, from 5 to 8 p.m. at her home at 425 Clubhouse Road in Ketchum.

Lapeyre was born 95 years ago. in Iowa, on Sept. 19. She met and married a French Army officer in 1936. They had one child and lived intermittently in Paris until separating many years later, at which point she moved to Sun Valley.

Because she and her husband were accomplished skiers they had latched onto the idea of the United State’s first destination ski resort when it was built.

Lapeyre and her daughter moved to the valley in 1951. Zauner, who went to school at Ketchum’s elementary school, which was located where Atkinsons’ Market is now located, said that they lived in an apartment above what is now F-Stop.

"She inspired so many young people here to do something with their lives. Mining had ended and it was a depressed area. She encouraged people to get out and see the world. Her students write to thank her for her tough love," said Zauner.

To contact her regarding the celebration, call 726-1616.

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.