Phyllis Hanselman, of Hailey, Idaho, died Saturday, Dec. 11, 2011, in St. Luke's hospital at the age of 95.
Phyllis was born on her grandfather's farm near Latty, Ohio, on June 23, 1916, to Russell Roscoe Lamb and Minnie Maude (Leslie) Lamb. Phyllis and her older sister Mapha were excellent students and star basketball players on the Latty High School basketball team.
After graduation, Phyllis and Mapha raised a small herd of sheep and saved enough money to set off on a six-week adventure touring the American West by automobile in 1938. Her family treasures an incredibly detailed journal of this and subsequent trips.
Phyllis married Edward Alfred Buehler on Feb. 29, 1936, and was widowed soon afterwards by a tragic farm accident. Their daughter, Sandra Sue (Buehler/Hanselman) Errett, was born soon after. Phyllis married Ralph Galen Hanselman of Gooding, Idaho, on March 2, 1943, and together they farmed the Ohio farms while raising three more children—Galen, Sharon and Diane.
On one of their many trips to visit Idaho, Ralph and Phyllis purchased the Ketchum Trailer Park in 1961 and then moved there in 1962 with their three younger children. Ralph managed the trailer park and Phyllis became the local Avon representative, meeting nearly everyone in the 700-person town of Ketchum. They sold the trailer park and retired to Twin Falls, Idaho, in the late 1970s.When Ralph passed in 1994, Phyllis relocated to Hailey, Idaho, to be closer to her family.
She enjoyed traveling, embroidering, cooking, quilting and playing Deuces Wild slot machines in Jackpot, Nev. At the age of 90, she would frequently drive herself to Jackpot for an afternoon of entertainment. As her eyesight became worse, Galen would fly her to Jackpot to keep her from driving.
Phyllis is survived by her daughters, Sandra Errett, Sharon Isom and Diane Clark; son, Galen Hanselman; sister Mapha Schaadt (age 97 and still farming but not playing basketball quite as much); and her loving and loyal companion, Sugie—her Siamese cat.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Edward Buehler; her second husband, Ralph Hanselman; and her sister Harriet Straley.
A private graveside service was held at the Ketchum Cemetery on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, followed by a memorial service at the Wood River Inn. The family wishes to thank Wendy Collins for presiding over the graveside service. In lieu of flowers or donations, do something nice for someone.
