Mollie Rae Dalton

Daniel's Grandma Dalton passed away this past week. We were planning on making it back for the funeral, but it just didn't work out when we still head 350 head to calve, and our trip would have consisted of driving 13 hrs, funeral, driving 13 hours back home. It was a hard decision to make especially because we would of been able to see family. In the end Daniel made the decision to stay home and reflect one his fond memories of Grandma Dalton- he has tons since the first 10 years of his life he lived right by her on the farm.

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 ten 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, Illinois area. She married Richard H. Dalton on January 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 Oregon, 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, 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 will be held from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, Thursday, May 24, 2012 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Hagerman, Idaho. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 am, Friday, May 25, 2012 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Hagerman, with visitation beginning at 10:00 am. Burial will follow at the Hagerman Cemetery.