Ellagene "Gene" Banta passed away 10 January 2003 at the home of her son, Gary Lee Banta in Boise, Idaho She was born 24 April 1925 in White Cottage, Ohio to Howard and Florence Frederick. Gene worked for the telephone company in Denver, Colorado where she met her husband, the late Jim Banta. She met Jim at a dance and he waltzed her off to Idaho. They were married 9 February 1946 and together they had two sons, James Scott of American Falls and Gary Lee of Boise. She was so proud of being able to help Jim start the QB Plant in Salmon. Gene ran the liquor store in Salmon for many years until she retired at 62, and took up golfing with Jim. She enjoyed the game but hated the way she played it. She never tired of watching the mountains that surrounded the golf course and her beloved town. She loved knitting, reading, cross-word puzzles and travel and her favorite trip was along the Salmon River for a picnic. She liked watching the waterfall Gary built outside her bedroom window and tending the flowers on the deck. She was a kind and gentle person. Her blue eyes and smile will be missed. She is survived by her sons, Scott Banta and Gary (Sandy) Banta and stepdaughter, Mary Nygard of New Port, Oregon. Also surviving are her grandchildren, Todd and Bobbi Banta, Meghan Banta, JB and Chris Hutson; great-grandchildren, Kelsi, Brandon and Tawny; and two sisters, Deloris Clamitt of Golden, Colorado and Twanett Corbitt of Fayetteville, Arkansas. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim; two sisters, Yvonne and Elenore and her parents.

A Memorial service for Jim Banta and Ellagene Banta was held at the Salmon Cemetery 6 July 2003. Jim passed away 4 June 2001 in Boise, Idaho. Ellagene passed away 10 January 2003 in Boise. Arrangements were under the direction of the Salmon River Funeral Chapel of Salmon.