Erma Rausch Starnes

Erma Jane Rausch Starnes, an 81-year-old resident of Burley, Idaho passed away Sunday at her home.

She was born July 15, 1923, in Acequia, Idaho, the daughter of Harry and Cleo Kendall Whittle. She attended River View (Walcot) Elementary School and completed her education at Acequia High School. She married Ed Rausch on Oct. 25, 1938, in Rupert, Idaho and they had three daughters, Laura, Rosella, and DeAnna.

Being raised on a farm in the Jackson District, Erma was taught the importance of hard work. She worked many years as a waitress and later was employed at J.R. Simplot Company and Max Herbold, Inc.

She enjoyed cooking, sewing, reading, and knitting. She especially loved to reminisce about her childhood on the farm in Acequia. She loved horses and liked the farm life. Her parents were a very special "breed of people" to the homesteaders. Erma saved and treasured everything!

Erma married Floyd Starnes on July 3, 1961, in Reno, Nevada. They spent many wonderful years together in Prineville, Oregon, and Moses Lake, Washington, prior to returning to the Mini-Cassia area where she had since resided.

Erma was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and enjoyed serving as a visiting teacher. She loved her church family and also had a close relationship with her neighbors in her mobile home park.

She was a wonderful mother and sweet grandmother. Her cheerful disposition and lady-like qualities will forever be cherished and certainly missed.

She is survived by her two daughters, Laura (Jerry) Anderson of Boise, Idaho and DeAnna (Danny) Asson of Burley, Idaho; her stepchildren, Marolynn Antrom of Boise, and Gordon Starnes of Washington state; her sister, Goldie Lafferty of Burley, Idaho; six grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, Edward Rausch and Floyd Starnes; her daughter, Rosella; two sisters, Martha Bernice Moffitt and Eliza Whittle; and one brother, Virgil Whittle.

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the Burley West Stake Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2420 Parke Ave., with Bishop Brian Barlow officiating. Burial will be in Rupert Cemetery.

Friends may call from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., Burley, Idaho and from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Friday at the church.