NORETA D. GOODWIN

 Noreta Smith was born on September 21,1937 to Godwin and Norma Smith, of Kellogg, Idaho.  The family home was located in Smelter Heights, which was on the south slope of Silver Valley.

 Her father, Godwin, was employed with Bunker-Hill and Sullivan Smelter shop as a Boilermaker, fabricating metal parts for the local mine, mill, and smelter.

 Noreta’s mother, Norma, was employed by the local boarding house, serving the local miners three meals a day. She also worked in local coffee shops and restaurants in Kellogg.

 Noreta attended Lincoln Grade School and graduated from Kellogg High School with honors. She was active in music and marching cadets. In 1955 she graduated from Kellogg High School and received a scholarship from Bunker-Hill to attend the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho to study the teaching of Secondary Education.

 While at the University of Idaho, she belonged to the Pi Beta Phi sorority as well as being in the U of I marching band as one of the flag team. She attended the U of I for four years and graduated in 1959 with her BS degree in Secondary Education.

 During her time at the University of Idaho, she met Ken Goodwin and soon became Sweethearts. On May 31, 1959 they were married and remained Sweethearts for over 60 year.

 Following her graduation and their wedding, they traveled to Ken’s Army duty station at Fort Story, Virginia and lived in Virginia Beach for a year while Ken completed his tour of duty.

 Upon returning to Idaho in 1960, she was hired as a middle school teacher at South JR. High in Boise. She remained on the teaching staff there for three years until she and Ken moved to Sweet, ID.  Here they joined the Goodwin family in the ranching and farming business. 

 While living in Sweet she was asked by Mr. Kenneth Carberry, Gem County School Superintendent, if she would teach the 7th and 8th grades at the Montour School as there was a vacancy at that school.  She filled the opening for one school year, 1968-1969. The following year, she was employed at the Horseshoe Bend Middle School teaching English. She remained at the Horseshoe Bend School for 15 years.

 After Horseshoe Bend she taught at Nampa High School, teaching computer keyboarding (typing) for an additional 15 years. During the time while teaching at Nampa High she enrolled in the Master Degree program at the Collage of Idaho and received her Masters Degree in Secondary Education. Noreta retired from Nampa High School in 1997.

 Upon her retirement in 1997, she and Ken began their many camping adventures with their friends visiting many favorite places.  These travels took them to New Mexico, Mexico, California, Canada (three times) and to Wyoming, Montana, Washington, Oregon, North and South Dakota and all the National Parks therein. They also visited

 England twice and France once. Noreta also loved to fly fish on Squaw creek and troll fish at Sage Hen Reservoir and did very well at both.

 Noreta belonged to two sororities in Emmett, the Beta Sigma Phi and the PEO for many years. She loved to Needle Point, Quilt, paint ceramics and was a very accomplished cook. While on the farm the hay crews loved to come to Noreta's house for the noon meal which were always a feast. While living on the farm Noreta grew a very large vegetable garden as well as many flowers. Noreta and Ken left the farm in 1981 and moved to Emmett where she also had a very large garden and many flowers.

 Noreta is survived by her husband, Kenneth; her daughter, Lori and Son-in-Law Thomas; son, Dale and granddaughter, Tasha and her husband, Jason. She has 2 great-grandchildren, Grayson and Eloise. Noreta is also survived by her brother, Gordon Smith and his wife, Sally, nieces and nephews. Noreta’s Parents, uncles and aunts precede her in death.

 The family would like to recognize and thank several individuals for the care that they provided for Noreta.  Kim Goodwin from ABC Home Health, June Adams, Amanda Fox, Shelly Bright, Theresa, Brian, Scott and Wade from Horizon Home Health and Hospice.  

 A memorial service will be held on Noreta and Ken’s anniversary at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 31, 2018 at the Potter Funeral Chapel of Emmett. Condolences may be offered at www.potterchapel.com

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