Dorathy Ruth Malm

Loving wife, devoted mother to five daughters, and beloved grandmother and great-grandmother, Dorathy Ruth Malm, passed away on Saturday, June 27, 2009.

Dorathy was born in Elkton, S.D., on April 16, 1928, to Harry and Elizabeth Bowers. Raised in Minnesota on farms with her older sister, Betty, Dorathy attended many small schools and walked or road horses and wagons to school each day. Her family raised chickens and sold the eggs to make ends meet. In her early teen years, her family moved to Livermore, Calif., where unknowingly to her, she would meet her husband-to-be.

In 1944, while still in high school, Dorathy met Hilmer who was working for her father. Hilmer was home on furlough from his current station in Italy. They began dating. Hilmer courted Dorathy and together they frequented Santa Cruz and Coconut Grove Night Club. They loved to dance and danced as much as they could when they were together. Finally, in September 1945, Hilmer was discharged from the Army and immediately went back to Livermore to marry Dorathy.

Dorathy was married to Hilmer Edgar Malm on Oct. 21, 1945, in Livermore. They had a small wedding with five witnesses. After the ceremony, they started driving and ended up in North Tahoe, where they spent a few days on their honeymoon. On their honeymoon night, they were sold only liver and onions by the local store because those foods did not require food stamps. In 1946, in their ’35 Chevy Coupe hauling a single-wheel trailer, Dorathy and Hilmer packed everything they had and moved to the Northwest.

They moved around before landing in Farragut at the Naval Base Training Center in Idaho. It was while living there, Dorathy gave birth to their first child. In the middle of the night, Hilmer drove to Spirit Lake to a house with a nurse, but the nurse would not allow Dorathy to stay or Hilmer through the door without 50 dollars in-hand. Not having that much money on him, Hilmer drove to Sandpoint to the bank to get the money, but by the time he arrived back at the half-way-hospital, Diane, their first daughter had already been born. Not long after, they moved to Bonner County in North Idaho, where Dorathy would spend the glory years of her life.

The breadth and depth of Dorathy’s involvement in the community knew few boundaries, much like her taste for adventure. She was involved in Bonner County 4-H for ten years, as a participant, a teacher, and a judge. She was an activist for local education, belonged to the Vay Ladies Club, a charter member of the Priest River Boat Club, involved in a local women’s bible study group, and held office for the North Idaho Senior Women’s Golf Association.

Always willing to try something new, Dorathy was adventurous beyond her years. She took up motorbiking, square dancing, canoeing, fishing, camping, backpacking, bicycling, and snow skiing. She was an avid water skier and golfer. Dorathy was one of the first to Slalom ski and absolutely loved being out on the water. Her years of golfing took Hilmer and her all over the western United States and Canada. She won many awards and golf tournaments. Dorathy did not learn to snow ski until she was in her mid-40’s when her two youngest daughters, Merry and Sherie started skiing. She took to the snow and spent many years thereafter skiing with family and friends. One of her favorite locations to ski and be with family was Big Sky, Montana. Dorathy’s love for the outdoors was evident. She enjoyed going camping and backpacking with her husband, and frequently invited Betty and Bud and family along.

While living on 15 acres in Springdale Gardens, Dorathy and Hilmer started experimenting with shearing trees and looked into it from a business perspective. Not long after, they became members of the Idaho Christmas Tree Growers Association. And, in 1963, Dorathy and Hilmer and their children started planting trees at “the farm,” later named Malm’s Christmas Tree Farm. For many, many years, the family would gather there every winter for fresh cut Christmas trees, hot chocolate, and sleigh rides in the snow through the farm. Dorathy and Hilmer lived together in Bonner County for more than 50 years.

Dorathy loved gardening and did a lot of canning. She gardened and canned until leaving the farm. In her later years, she also took up tole painting, of which she had a natural talent for. Her grandkids will always remember her for her homemade baked beans at family gatherings, her ability to outplay anyone at cards, and her unwavering love for each one of them.

Dorathy is preceded in death by her half-brothers, Raymond Shire and Merton Shaw; her sister, Betty Shults; and her daughter, Merry (Randy) Dahlin. Dorathy leaves behind the love of her life, Hilmer; and her beloved daughters Diane (Shawn) Boling of Sandpoint,  Loretta (Duane) Larsen of Cheney, Wash., Susan (Dave) Russell of Missoula, Mont., and Sherie (Craig) Clipson of Oldtown, Idaho. She also leaves behind her adored grandchildren, Mary Bidwell, Elizabeth (Larry) Schroeder, Jeremy Dahlin, Jared (Kristy) Russell, Jeremiah Clipson, Alice (Ruben) Macias, Jason Clipson, Jill (David) Max, Brenda Dahlin, David Larsen, Beth (Kyle) Sampson, and Emily Clipson; and her five great-grandchildren.

At Dorathy and Hilmer’s request, memorials can be made to the Seneacquoteen Cemetery Association, PO Box 401, Laclede, ID 83841. A public memorial service was held at noon on Monday, July 6, 2009 at the Sherman-Knapp Funeral Home in Priest River, Idaho. A private reception followed.

Sherman-Knapp Funeral home and Crematory in Priest River is in charge of arrangements. Family and friends are welcome to sign the online guestbook at www.sherman-knapp.com