Edith Jane Suter

Edith Jane Suter, 100 of Parma, passed away Sunday, November 12, 2017, at a care facility in Homedale, Idaho. Edith was born July 11, 1917, to Harry and Olga Warren at Sutherland, Iowa. She was their oldest child, and had a sister, Eleanor, and brother, Wayne. They lived on a farm and had many adventures together, playing with neighbor children and riding horses. They also learned the meaning of hard work.
The family moved to Tracy, Minnesota, where Edith graduated from high school and then attended Lee’s College of Cosmetology in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Edith moved with her family to a farm at Roswell, Idaho. She worked in the onion fields near Wilder, where she met John Rayburn Suter (Babe). Edith and Babe were married February 16, 1941, and farmed in Wilder. It was there that she had the first three of her four children: Helen Ann and Harold Allen (twins) in 1942, and Barbara Rae in 1944. Harold died at birth.
Edith and Babe bought a farm at Parma, and in 1951 built a house. In 1952, daughter Janice Marie was born. That completed the family, and Edith worked very hard caring for everyone. She gardened, grew fruit and berries, raised chickens, and preserved the fruits of her labor. She also raised beautiful flowers, and was very proud of her lawn and garden.
Edith was active in her community: leader for many years in 4-H club, school committees, and Ten Davis Social Circle. She attended and held offices in Kirkpatrick Memorial Presbyterian Church in Parma and was an active member until she died. She loved her church family and was close to them until the end.
In 1965, Babe died, and Edith continued to live on the farm, renting the land to Orville Hartman and family. Edith considered the Hartman’s to be part of her family. She also was part owner of a hop farm in Wilder, with sister-in-law, Laura Suter. Edith was proud of her business management abilities and worked hard to help maintain the farms.
Edith enjoyed cooking (she was a fantastic cook!), sewing, crocheting, gardening and camping in the Idaho mountains with her family. She had many good memories of holiday dinners and picnics with her family, taking occasional trips to the Oregon coast and visiting her daughters’ homes. She went on a cruise of the Caribbean, and enjoyed that very much. Edith loved to read, and do puzzles. Fortunately she kept her eyesight and cognitive abilities to the end. She was a voracious reader of library books from Parma and Homedale, provided to her by Bobbi Lou Johnson.
After she sold her farm and home, Edith lived at Parma assisted living, until her health required her to move to the Owyhee Health and Rehab Center in Homedale. Edith enjoyed playing Bingo there and had lots of friends and family come to visit her. She was a remarkable woman and role model to her children and grandchildren. She could be very serious, but laughed easily and enjoyed a good story. We will all miss her very much and feel blessed to have had her in our lives for so long.
Edith is survived by her sister, Eleanor Topliff (Irvin) of Nyssa; her daughters, Helen Purkerson (Darrel) of St. Helen’s, OR and Janice Woods (Bill) of Boise; grandchildren, David Purkerson, Dana Hammer, Jane Patterson, Dustin Wall and Casey Wall; and great grandchildren, Nolan, Delaney and Karina.
She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Wayne, husband Rayburn, daughter Barbara and son Harold.
There will be a Celebration of Edith’s Life next spring. Cremation has been trusted to Dakan Funeral Chapel, Caldwell. Memorials may be given to Sunshine Cupboard, PO Box 789, Parma, ID 83660; or Idaho Youth Ranch, 5465 W Irving St, Boise, ID 83706. Condolences may be shared with Edith’s family at www.dakanfuneralchapel.com

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