Elaine Darge Bethard passed away on June 9, 2011 after a brief illness. She was 100 years of age, and only 43 days shy of her 101st birthday. Elaine was born to William and Nellie Viets Darge July 22, 1910 in Dayton, Butte County.
At the age of 8, her father died and she became her mother's helper in raising her younger sisters, as well as four more siblings after her mother married George Hensley. After graduating high school, she married Melvin Willard Bethard in 1931. Both Elaine and Melvin were from large pioneer Butte County families and kept those strong ties as they raised their three children, Charles, Marjorie, and Delores in the Durham and Dayton areas.
Elaine was a homemaker, preserving fruits in the summer, baking cookies, and was known for her high-topped yeast rolls. She learned tailoring through the Butte County Cooperative Extension Service and used her talent to sew for others. Also, many quilts, toys, and teddy bears were created at her sewing machine. As an active 4-H leader in Durham and Butte County, she taught others to sew as well. She was a member of the Chico Eagles Auxiliary and the Durham Grange for many years and in recent years enjoyed creating gift boxes for Operation Christmas Child.
Elaine always tried to see the silver lining in life's challenges. In her 100 years of life, she heard from many who appreciated her love and the positive influence she had on them.
In 1973, Elaine and Melvin retired to Red Bluff to be closer to her daughter Marjorie and son-in-law, Bill Ford. Most recently she resided at California Park Rehab Hospital. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1994 and also her son, Charles. Her daughter Delores resides in Oklahoma. Elaine is survived by her daughters and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, and great-great-great- grandchildren.
At the age of 8, her father died and she became her mother's helper in raising her younger sisters, as well as four more siblings after her mother married George Hensley. After graduating high school, she married Melvin Willard Bethard in 1931. Both Elaine and Melvin were from large pioneer Butte County families and kept those strong ties as they raised their three children, Charles, Marjorie, and Delores in the Durham and Dayton areas.
Elaine was a homemaker, preserving fruits in the summer, baking cookies, and was known for her high-topped yeast rolls. She learned tailoring through the Butte County Cooperative Extension Service and used her talent to sew for others. Also, many quilts, toys, and teddy bears were created at her sewing machine. As an active 4-H leader in Durham and Butte County, she taught others to sew as well. She was a member of the Chico Eagles Auxiliary and the Durham Grange for many years and in recent years enjoyed creating gift boxes for Operation Christmas Child.
Elaine always tried to see the silver lining in life's challenges. In her 100 years of life, she heard from many who appreciated her love and the positive influence she had on them.
In 1973, Elaine and Melvin retired to Red Bluff to be closer to her daughter Marjorie and son-in-law, Bill Ford. Most recently she resided at California Park Rehab Hospital. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1994 and also her son, Charles. Her daughter Delores resides in Oklahoma. Elaine is survived by her daughters and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, and great-great-great- grandchildren.
Elaine Darge Bethard passed away on June 9, 2011 after a brief illness. She was 100 years of age, and only 43 days shy of her 101st birthday. Elaine was born to William and Nellie Viets Darge July 22, 1910 in Dayton, Butte County.
At the age of 8, her father died and she became her mother's helper in raising her younger sisters, as well as four more siblings after her mother married George Hensley. After graduating high school, she married Melvin Willard Bethard in 1931. Both Elaine and Melvin were from large pioneer Butte County families and kept those strong ties as they raised their three children, Charles, Marjorie, and Delores in the Durham and Dayton areas.
Elaine was a homemaker, preserving fruits in the summer, baking cookies, and was known for her high-topped yeast rolls. She learned tailoring through the Butte County Cooperative Extension Service and used her talent to sew for others. Also, many quilts, toys, and teddy bears were created at her sewing machine. As an active 4-H leader in Durham and Butte County, she taught others to sew as well. She was a member of the Chico Eagles Auxiliary and the Durham Grange for many years and in recent years enjoyed creating gift boxes for Operation Christmas Child.
Elaine always tried to see the silver lining in life's challenges. In her 100 years of life, she heard from many who appreciated her love and the positive influence she had on them.
In 1973, Elaine and Melvin retired to Red Bluff to be closer to her daughter Marjorie and son-in-law, Bill Ford. Most recently she resided at California Park Rehab Hospital. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1994 and also her son, Charles. Her daughter Delores resides in Oklahoma. Elaine is survived by her daughters and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, and great-great-great- grandchildren.
At the age of 8, her father died and she became her mother's helper in raising her younger sisters, as well as four more siblings after her mother married George Hensley. After graduating high school, she married Melvin Willard Bethard in 1931. Both Elaine and Melvin were from large pioneer Butte County families and kept those strong ties as they raised their three children, Charles, Marjorie, and Delores in the Durham and Dayton areas.
Elaine was a homemaker, preserving fruits in the summer, baking cookies, and was known for her high-topped yeast rolls. She learned tailoring through the Butte County Cooperative Extension Service and used her talent to sew for others. Also, many quilts, toys, and teddy bears were created at her sewing machine. As an active 4-H leader in Durham and Butte County, she taught others to sew as well. She was a member of the Chico Eagles Auxiliary and the Durham Grange for many years and in recent years enjoyed creating gift boxes for Operation Christmas Child.
Elaine always tried to see the silver lining in life's challenges. In her 100 years of life, she heard from many who appreciated her love and the positive influence she had on them.
In 1973, Elaine and Melvin retired to Red Bluff to be closer to her daughter Marjorie and son-in-law, Bill Ford. Most recently she resided at California Park Rehab Hospital. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1994 and also her son, Charles. Her daughter Delores resides in Oklahoma. Elaine is survived by her daughters and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, and great-great-great- grandchildren.
