2003 MOTHER OF THE YEAR

ALTA MCMINIMY

2003 MOTHER OF THE YEAR

by Nancy Michaels

When Assembly President Pat asked me to honor her mother at this Assembly Session, I was honored and humbled. How could I give justice to a member who has dedicated her life to Rebekahs and Odd Fellows? I didn't know much about Sister Alta, so on several trips to lodge meetings, District meetings, and to Boise, I started writing things down as she talked about herself. One time she asked me if I was doing her eulogy? Humor she has never lost! I told her "No," I was just interested and was asked to do a lodge program on a few members.

Alta was born in Lewiston, Idaho, on September 10, 1911. The family lived in Asotin, Washington. In that era, most people had their children at home, but because of her mother being ill, Alta was born in a hospital. She had a brother and a sister.

They moved to Atlalia, down by Pasco, Washington. After graduating from high school in Pasco, they moved to Brookings, Oregon, where she met and married her first husband. In 1931 a bouncing baby boy (Don) was born on Christmas Day, and two years later a daughter (Neva) arrived.

In 1935 she married Mick in Spokane, Washington. They moved to California and Alta went to IBM school. Dick and Pat were born in the Sacramento area. Alta worked for Kaiser Shipyards, and in 1945 was one of the first persons transferred to Spokane one year before Kaiser was opened in the Spokane valley. Mick went to work there also as an electrician. Alta was the first computer keypunch operator at the Trentwood plant. Before the plant opened, she worked for an insurance company.

She and Mick went on vacations, traveling the United States on motorcycles. I thought that was very interesting.

After a few years she quit Kaiser and went to work for Reno Ware in Spokane for better pay. Later on the company sold out and moved to the coast, but she did not transfer with the company. She went to work in a bank and took a year off during her term as Assembly President.

Alta has been associated with Odd Fellows and Rebekahs her entire life. She can remember, as a little girl, her parents going to meetings, playing cards or dancing. Many times they went to potluck dinners where everyone enjoyed themselves so much.

When Alta reached the age where she could belong, her mother wanted her to join, but at that time she was interested in school and then a job, and soon after that was married, but every time she saw her mother, she reminded Alta that she still wanted her to join.

In 1945 they moved to Post Falls, where she met Sister Lenore Howell. In 1950 Lenore talked Alta into joining. After all those years--what an accomplishment!

Her mother passed away in 1948, and she often thinks how proud she would have been. Alta often wondered why she waited so long to join.

From the beginning of her membership, Alta took an active part in lodge. The year she became Noble Grand, she was honored to have Sister Myra Peterson as Assembly President. It was a very special time, as Myra was a very good friend.

Alta served as District Deputy President three different times, and enjoyed visiting the different lodes and making friends.

She helped to start a Theta Rho Girls Club in Post Falls, and was their Advisor for three years. She enjoyed those days and she still sees some of the girls after all this time.

In 1965 Alta was elected Warden of the Rebekah Assembly of Idaho. She is quoted as saying, "It was a thrill when I was elected and installed as President. It was a feeling I will never forget."

When planning her messages for the lodges and trying to make them interesting, her husband bought her a tape recorder--she was down right insulted to think he thought she needed it., but after a while she realized how important an aide it was to her.

In 1967 Alta was Assembly President. In 1965 when she was elected Warden, Mabel Garland was secretary of the Assembly and in 1967 when she was President, Sister Carolyn Hancock was secretary of the Assembly. Sister Myra Peterson was the first Noble Grand she visited.

Alta's motto was "Take time for youth. Today's youth is the world tomorrow." Her watchwords were "Friendship and Happiness" and her emblem was "The Clasped Hands of Friendship." I do believe this was all apropos for a very special lady.

An interesting fact is that the Assembly dresses were from Sears and cost $19.95. The colors were lavender to dark purple.

Alta was representative to IARA in 1969, and traveled to Boston, Massachusetts, and in 1970 whe worked on the floor for IARA President Myrtle Russell.

She joined Lake City No. 10, LAPM and served twice as their President, and received her 25-year jewel. She still attends and takes an active part. She is also a charter member of The Ladies Encampmant Auxiliary, Sheppard No.42, and has served as their Chief Matriarch twice. She still attends and enjoys her association with the members.

She was representative to the Odd Fellow and Rebekah Northwest Association and attend for many years.

Alta has stated many times the friends she has made through her association with Odd Fellows and Rebekahs, she wouldn't trade for anything in the world.

Her philosophy of life has been, if you take an office, then it's your responsibility to take care of it. I do believe she has carried that out with her many years as secretary for Carnation No.95.

Her husband and all of her children have belonged to the Order, with her son, Don, becoming Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge, daughter Pat as Assembly President this year, and her son-in-law, Ken Edwards, as Grand Master this coming year. What an accomplishment. All of their pictures hang in the lodge hall at Post Falls. She says it is all in the family.

Some interesting facts: Her son, Dick, lives in Houston, Texas; and is the head security officer for NASA. Because Dick works there and has a little pull, she was taken on a grand tour of NASA. When the movie "Apollo 13" was made and finished, she was invited to have dinner with Tom Hanks and Ron Howard. Under President George Bush, Sr., she was invited aboard Air Force 1, met his wife Barbara, and got to take a grand tour of the plane. There was a comment from the crowd of people, "How come that old lady gets to go on the plane?" She has received Christmas cards from President Clinton, George Bush, Sr., and George Bush, Jr. She has signatures of the people who went up in the Challenger and the Russian Yurie that went into space.

Needless to say, Alta, your life has been interesting, and I have enjoyed writing this tribure to you. You are surely "Mother of the Year"--not only to Pat, but also to all of us. You have dedicated your life to Rebekahs and Odd Fellows and for that we congratulate you.

President Pat then addressed her mother:

A Mother's Love

A Mother's Love is something that no one can explain

It is made of deep devotion and of sacrifice and pain.

It is endless and unselfish, and enduring come what may

For nothing can destroy it or take that love away.

It is patient and forgiving when all others are forsaking,

Ant it never fails or falters even when the heart is breaking.

When the world around condemns and it glows with all the beauty

Of the rarest, brightest gems. It is far beyond defining,

It defies all explanation, and it still remains a secret

Like all the mysteries of creation, a many splendored miracle

Man cannot understand, and another wondrous evidence

Of God's tender guiding hand.

That's my Mom, I Love You!!!

Janette Weatherly pinned a corsage on Alta and gave her a gift from her daughter.

The Marshall and Conductor then escorted Sister Alta to the Honor Station for the afternoon, while the choir sang her song, "My Best To You."

Reprinted from the 2003 Journal of Proceedings, Rebekah Assembly of Idaho.

ALTA MCMINIMY 2003 MOTHER OF THE YEAR
by Nancy Michaels
When Assembly President Pat asked me to honor her mother at this Assembly Session, I was honored and humbled. How could I give justice to a member who has dedicated her life to Rebekahs and Odd Fellows? I didn't know much about Sister Alta, so on several trips to lodge meetings, District meetings, and to Boise, I started writing things down as she talked about herself. One time she asked me if I was doing her eulogy? Humor she has never lost! I told her "No," I was just interested and was asked to do a lodge program on a few members. Alta was born in Lewiston, Idaho, on September 10, 1911. The family lived in Asotin, Washington. In that era, most people had their children at home, but because of her mother being ill, Alta was born in a hospital. She had a brother and a sister. They moved to Atlalia, down by Pasco, Washington. After graduating from high school in Pasco, they moved to Brookings, Oregon, where she met and married her first husband. In 1931 a bouncing baby boy (Don) was born on Christmas Day, and two years later a daughter (Neva) arrived. In 1935 she married Mick in Spokane, Washington. They moved to California and Alta went to IBM school. Dick and Pat were born in the Sacramento area. Alta worked for Kaiser Shipyards, and in 1945 was one of the first persons transferred to Spokane one year before Kaiser was opened in the Spokane valley. Mick went to work there also as an electrician. Alta was the first computer keypunch operator at the Trentwood plant. Before the plant opened, she worked for an insurance company. She and Mick went on vacations, traveling the United States on motorcycles. I thought that was very interesting. After a few years she quit Kaiser and went to work for Reno Ware in Spokane for better pay. Later on the company sold out and moved to the coast, but she did not transfer with the company. She went to work in a bank and took a year off during her term as Assembly President. Alta has been associated with Odd Fellows and Rebekahs her entire life. She can remember, as a little girl, her parents going to meetings, playing cards or dancing. Many times they went to potluck dinners where everyone enjoyed themselves so much. When Alta reached the age where she could belong, her mother wanted her to join, but at that time she was interested in school and then a job, and soon after that was married, but every time she saw her mother, she reminded Alta that she still wanted her to join. In 1945 they moved to Post Falls, where she met Sister Lenore Howell. In 1950 Lenore talked Alta into joining. After all those years--what an accomplishment! Her mother passed away in 1948, and she often thinks how proud she would have been. Alta often wondered why she waited so long to join. From the beginning of her membership, Alta took an active part in lodge. The year she became Noble Grand, she was honored to have Sister Myra Peterson as Assembly President. It was a very special time, as Myra was a very good friend. Alta served as District Deputy President three different times, and enjoyed visiting the different lodes and making friends. She helped to start a Theta Rho Girls Club in Post Falls, and was their Advisor for three years. She enjoyed those days and she still sees some of the girls after all this time. In 1965 Alta was elected Warden of the Rebekah Assembly of Idaho. She is quoted as saying, "It was a thrill when I was elected and installed as President. It was a feeling I will never forget." When planning her messages for the lodges and trying to make them interesting, her husband bought her a tape recorder--she was down right insulted to think he thought she needed it., but after a while she realized how important an aide it was to her. In 1967 Alta was Assembly President. In 1965 when she was elected Warden, Mabel Garland was secretary of the Assembly and in 1967 when she was President, Sister Carolyn Hancock was secretary of the Assembly. Sister Myra Peterson was the first Noble Grand she visited. Alta's motto was "Take time for youth. Today's youth is the world tomorrow." Her watchwords were "Friendship and Happiness" and her emblem was "The Clasped Hands of Friendship." I do believe this was all apropos for a very special lady. An interesting fact is that the Assembly dresses were from Sears and cost $19.95. The colors were lavender to dark purple. Alta was representative to IARA in 1969, and traveled to Boston, Massachusetts, and in 1970 whe worked on the floor for IARA President Myrtle Russell. She joined Lake City No. 10, LAPM and served twice as their President, and received her 25-year jewel. She still attends and takes an active part. She is also a charter member of The Ladies Encampmant Auxiliary, Sheppard No.42, and has served as their Chief Matriarch twice. She still attends and enjoys her association with the members. She was representative to the Odd Fellow and Rebekah Northwest Association and attend for many years. Alta has stated many times the friends she has made through her association with Odd Fellows and Rebekahs, she wouldn't trade for anything in the world. Her philosophy of life has been, if you take an office, then it's your responsibility to take care of it. I do believe she has carried that out with her many years as secretary for Carnation No.95. Her husband and all of her children have belonged to the Order, with her son, Don, becoming Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge, daughter Pat as Assembly President this year, and her son-in-law, Ken Edwards, as Grand Master this coming year. What an accomplishment. All of their pictures hang in the lodge hall at Post Falls. She says it is all in the family. Some interesting facts: Her son, Dick, lives in Houston, Texas; and is the head security officer for NASA. Because Dick works there and has a little pull, she was taken on a grand tour of NASA. When the movie "Apollo 13" was made and finished, she was invited to have dinner with Tom Hanks and Ron Howard. Under President George Bush, Sr., she was invited aboard Air Force 1, met his wife Barbara, and got to take a grand tour of the plane. There was a comment from the crowd of people, "How come that old lady gets to go on the plane?" She has received Christmas cards from President Clinton, George Bush, Sr., and George Bush, Jr. She has signatures of the people who went up in the Challenger and the Russian Yurie that went into space. Needless to say, Alta, your life has been interesting, and I have enjoyed writing this tribure to you. You are surely "Mother of the Year"--not only to Pat, but also to all of us. You have dedicated your life to Rebekahs and Odd Fellows and for that we congratulate you.
President Pat then addressed her mother:
	A Mother's Love
	A Mother's Love is something that no one can explain It is made of deep devotion and of sacrifice and pain. It is endless and unselfish, and enduring come what may For nothing can destroy it or take that love away. It is patient and forgiving when all others are forsaking, Ant it never fails or falters even when the heart is breaking. When the world around condemns and it glows with all the beauty Of the rarest, brightest gems. It is far beyond defining, It defies all explanation, and it still remains a secret Like all the mysteries of creation, a many splendored miracle Man cannot understand, and another wondrous evidence Of God's tender guiding hand. That's my Mom, I Love You!!!
Janette Weatherly pinned a corsage on Alta and gave her a gift from her daughter. The Marshall and Conductor then escorted Sister Alta to the Honor Station for the afternoon, while the choir sang her song, "My Best To You."
		Reprinted from the 2003 Journal of Proceedings, Rebekah Assembly of Idaho.