Jessie Lee Dorchak, 90, a resident of Shoshone, and formerly of Hailey, died May 24, 2012, in Shoshone, Idaho.
Jessie was born Nov. 21, 1921, in Soda Springs, Idaho, to Zina Marie and Erastus Lee Reese. She was the fourth of five children and grew up on the family ranch five miles east of Henry, Idaho.
After her sophomore year in high school she moved in with her oldest sister on a ranch at Gannett, Idaho, to finish high school, graduating in the class of 1939 from Hailey High School. She met her future husband that summer, and on May 14, 1940, she married Steven Johann Dorchak. They had three children, Mary Johann, DeeAnn and Stephan.
In 1953 the family moved back to the Wood River Valley, first on a ranch north of Timmerman Hill, then to Triumph and finally settling in Hailey where they built a home. In 1955 she started working for Dr. George and Pat Saviers, then moved on to Sun Valley where she worked in housekeeping, food service and finishing as a phone operator. She finished her working career at the SNRA at North Fork. She was a lifetime member of the Rebekah Lodge in Bellevue.
After Steve died in October 1994, she maintained her home in Hailey until health reasons forced her to move into assisted living in Shoshone.
Jessie was preceded in death by her husband, oldest daughter Johann and one great-grandchild.
She is survived by daughter DeeAnn of Dietrich, Idaho; son, Stephan, of Depoe Bay, Ore.; nine grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Per her request no public services will be held.
Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Demaray Funeral Service—Shoshone Chapel. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting the obituary link at www.demarayfuneralservice.com.
