Mollie Rae Dalton, 87, a resident of Hagerman, Idaho, died May 20, 2012, at St. Luke's Magic Valley Medical Center.
Mollie was born on March 2, 1925, in Burley, Idaho, to Simon and Mollie Baker, the third of 10 children. She was raised in the beautiful valley of Lynn, Utah. At an early age, she had to leave home to complete her formal education in Brigham City and Logan, Utah. She later attended Utah State and Brigham Young universities, earning a wartime teaching certificate. She taught school for three years, which included a year in a one-room school with 12 students, four of whom were her sisters, and a season as a basketball coach. She served a mission for the LDS Church in the Peoria, Ill., area. She married Richard H. Dalton on Jan. 27, 1950, in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple.
The gospel of Jesus Christ was the foundation of her life. As a lifelong member of the LDS Church, she served in many callings, including Relief Society and Primary President, Relief Society and Sunday school teacher, and Cub Scout leader.
Mollie and Richard began their life together in Adrian, Ore., operating a small family farm. They later moved to Idaho, living for a brief time in Carey and Kimberly, and continuing their farming ventures in Hazelton and Hagerman. As a farm wife, Mollie sometimes drove tractors in the field, milked cows and even delivered a foal with her apron. She helped establish and support a successful family farming and dairy operation.
Mollie raised a family of seven children with a culture of hard work, thrift and love for each other. She grew a large vegetable garden every year, made hundreds of loaves of bread and cinnamon rolls, canned thousands of jars of fruits and vegetables, and sewed many of her children's clothes. She always loved to read, and when her eyesight dimmed in her later years, she learned to use technology to continue this passion, listening to church magazines, scriptures and books on tape and CD.
Mollie left a legacy of love, example, industry, faithfulness and courage. She lived an honorable life with her family at the center. One of her many mottos was "If you can't say something good, then don't say anything at all."
Mollie is survived by four daughters and three sons: Sue (Mike) Madarieta of Boise, Idaho; Sylvia (Kevin) Ellis of Richfield, Idaho; Roberta (Craig) Thompson of Meridian, Idaho; Matthew Dalton of Twin Falls Idaho; Rex (Elaine) Dalton of Gooding, Idaho; Barry (Dodi) Dalton of Shoshone, Idaho; and Nancy (Doug) Surerus of Carey, Idaho; three sisters and two brothers: Simon Baker of West Valley City, Utah; Norman Baker of Salt Lake City, Utah; Kathleen (Gene) Randall of Kimberly, Idaho; Rachel (Paul) Fairbourne of Salt Lake City, Utah; and Diane Rentelman of Bliss, Idaho; 33 grandchildren and 44 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; daughter-in-law Kari Dalton; one grandson, Zeke Stanger; two brothers, Laurence and John Baker; and two sisters, Emma Hansen and Barbara Westfall.
Visitation for family and friends was held Thursday, May 24, and a funeral service was held Friday, May 25, both at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Hagerman. Burial followed at the Hagerman Cemetery.
Arrangements were under the direction of Demaray Funeral Service—Gooding Chapel. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting the obituary link at www.demarayfuneralservice.com.
