Retirement Alaska-Style

Bill Rathke

Wilburt “Bill” Robert Rathke of Halfway, Oregon and Hailey, Idaho passed away on Monday August 22, 2021 at the Shoshone Care Center in Shoshone, Idaho. He was 98 years old.

Bill was born September 27, 1922 in Hailey, Idaho to Charles and Hilda Rathke. He grew up in Hailey hunting, fishing, and skiing. In the winter you could find Bill on the ski slopes. He couldn’t afford a ski ticket so he and his friend, Lonnie Linderman, built a ski lift between Green Horn and Timber Gulch where they and many friends spent countless hours skiing.

Bill won the downhill at the Harriman Cup Race in Sun Valley in 1947

Bill graduated from Hailey High School as valedictorian of his class. He was in the Engineering program at the University of Idaho when he was drafted for World War II. He served three years in the 85th Mountain Infantry, 10th Mountain Division and was an expert infantryman. He was awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, American Service Medal, World War II Victory Medal, and a European African Middle Eastern Service Medal.

After returning from the war, he married his high bill rathke school sweetheart, Louise Barr, and continued the family business, Rathke Plumbing, in Hailey. He and Louise had three children together. After their divorce Bill married Faye Hurt and moved to Halfway, Oregon. He worked for Idaho Power as the pump foreman building Brownlee Reservoir, along with two other reservoirs in Hells Canyon. Bill loved working as the owner of Rathke Plumbing in Halfway, where he worked almost every day until he was 96 years old.

Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Faye; his son, Steven Rathke; two siblings, George and Hilda, and his parents. He is survived by son, Bruce Rathke of Carey, Idaho; daughter, Susan (Don) McCoy of Weiser, Idaho; four grandchildren and six greatgrandchildren.

Photo courtesy of David baker a rthur an D e ve b aker taking a quick dip in the Arctic Ocean at Deadhorse, Alaska. Arthur recently retired after 20 years in the Marine Corps, and now lives with his family in Fairbanks, Alaska. Arthur is the son of David and Marjorie Baker of Halfway and a 1994 graduate of Pine Eagle High School.

Museum Meeting Change

Pine Valley Museum Committee’s monthly meetings are now being held in the meeting room of the Halfway Library. The meetings will continue to be held on the second Monday of each month at 1:15 p.m.

Correction

An article in last week’s HCJ stated the Community Development Block Grant for a new fire hall in Halfway had been awarded to Pine Valley Rural Fire Protection District. The grant was actually awarded to the City of Halfway on behalf of the fire district.

Thank You

The board of Pine Valley Recycling would like to thank Jacob’s Dream for their generous donation. We appreciate their support.

We would also like to thank Dave, Whitey, and Mike for hauling recyclables to Baker City, Rick for scheduling Saturday recyclers, and all the people who work to make recycling work.

Cardboard collection for recycling is very successful at present, so if you would like to volunteer for cardboard baling, please call 541-742-2790 or 541-742-2428. Baling is easy and fun and training is available for first time balers.