Obituary - Mary E. Bottjer

Mary E. Bottjer, 90, Moscow

Mary Ellen Bottjer, a longtime Moscow resident and teacher died Tuesday, July 22, 2003, at Gritman Medical Center in Moscow. She was 90.

She was born May 19, 1913, in Atlantic, Iowa, to Charles E. and Irene Osgood Blodgett. When 3 months old, she moved with her family to Grand View, Idaho. She attended school there and graduated from high school m 1931. The family had a home in Boise, where she had part of her schooling. In 1934, she graduated from Lewiston Normal School, where she was awarded the Phi Beta Sigma key for excellence in teaching. In 1939, she received her bachelor's degree from Iowa State Teachers College and later earned her master's degree from the University of Idaho. She also took work at the College of Idaho and San Jose Teachers College in California.

She taught school in Grand View and Moscow for a period spanning 41 years, retiring in 1975. She taught in every room in Russell School and spent 20 years at West Park School, at one time serving as head teacher. She served as demonstration teacher and supervised student teachers for the University of Idaho. She directed the elementary summer school and assisted in the math workshop at the University of Idaho for two summers. She directed the Washington State College, now WSU, Elementary Summer School for one summer. In 1967, she was appointed by the State Board of Education to a six-year term on the State Textbook and Improvement of Instruction Committee. She served as chairman of that committee for one year.

She married Robert Bottjer Jan. 4, 1942, at the home of her parents at Cambria Pines, Calif. They were married 61 years having lived 13 years on a farm east of Moscow before moving into Moscow.

She was active in the Methodist church, where she sang in the choir, taught Sunday School, was a member of the Esther Rice Circle and served on the administrative board. She served as a judge with the Latah County and city election boards, was a member of Gritman Hospital Auxiliary, the AARP national and local chapters, the Latah County Historical Society, the Idaho Roadrunners, the Kendrick Campers Club, t ??e Friendly Neighbors, the Nat1onal Good Sam Club and the I.H. social club. She al: so was an active member of Delta Kappa Gamma, International Teachers' Honorary Society. Previously, she had been a member of the Order of Eastern Star, Rebekahs and the Moscow Grange. She was a member of the local, state and national education association chapters.

She loved her family and enjoyed traveling, camping, reading, doing handcrafts, making qu1lts and playing pinochle.

Survivors include her husband at the family home; a daughter and son-in-law Connie and Kenneth Hall of Moscow; a brother, Rex Blodgett of Moscow; two grandsons, Kelly Hall and his wife, Erica, of Punta Gorda, Fla., and Tony Hall and his wife, Sola, of Eustia, Fla.; two great-granddaughters, Hannah Grace and Zoey Lee; and several nieces and nephews.

Two brothers, Charles O. Blodgett and Earle C. Blodgett, preceded her in death. Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Moscow First United Methodist Church. The Rev. Bill Green of the church will officiate.

The family suggests in lieu of flowers memorials be sent in her name to the United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 6375, Moscow, ID 83843; or to the Moscow School District Library Fund, c/o Sue Driscoll, 650 N. Cleveland, Moscow, ID 83843. Arrangements are under the direction of Short's Funeral Chapel in Moscow.

Lewiston Tribune, July 24, 2003, p. 6A
Transcribed by Jill Leonard Nock