Ida Ruth Jackson Hatch passed away June 22, 2016 surrounded by family at her home in Hood River, Oregon. She was 75 at the time of her passing.

Ida Ruth was born September 16, 1940 to Floyd James and Phyllis Swensen Jackson. She was the third of six children born to Floyd and Phyllis. Ida was raised and educated in Ashton, Idaho. She attended Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho on a Seminary scholarship, and graduated with a Provisional Certificate degree to teach in the elementary education system.

Ida taught third grade for a year at St. Anthony, Idaho after graduating from Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho, and then she attended Utah State University in Logan, Utah. She became ill part way through the year and had to drop out. She was seeing a doctor in Boise, Idaho when she met her husband to be, Melvin Stearns Hatch, at a church dance in Boise. They were married in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple on June 28, 1963.

They lived in several places before moving to Hood River, including Boise, Idaho, Salt Lake City, Utah, and Belgrade, Montana. While visiting friends in Hood River in the fall of 1976, and being enthralled with the area, it’s beauty, mild climate, the abundance of available fresh fruit, and nice people, they decided to sell their home in Belgrade, Montana and make Hood River their new home.

Ida was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints all of her life, serving in most of the auxiliaries of the church including Branch and Ward Primary music leader; Branch and Ward choir and music director; Stake choir and music director; teacher in the Ward Young Women’s auxiliary; counselor in Branch and Ward Young Women and Ward Relief Societies; Branch Relief Society president; Hood River Ward Relief Society president; Stake Homemaking counselor, and Stake Relief Society President.

Ida collected bells, loved working jigsaw puzzles, wrote some poetry and skits and ’spoofs’ on well known poetic writings. She also liked to cook and bake. One of her specialties was making candy…toffee, caramels, turtles, graham cracker fudge, chocolates, etc.

She also loved the outdoors, especially hiking in the Northwest. The beauty and splendor seen during the many hikes the family and friends participated in filled her with joy.

Ida had a keen sense of humor. She loved to laugh and engage in good clean fun. She often expressed how she loved that her kids were so delightful and fun to be around because they each had their own unique quick wit and humor. One of her expressions about raising children was, “Mel and I probably didn’t do the best we could, but we did the best we knew how……and the “kids” turned out wonderful in spite of us!”

The grand kids were her greatest delight and she loved them dearly. Her regret was that she didn’t see them often enough.

Mel and Ida owned Hood River Interiors in the old Tum-a-lum building on Oak Street for several years, then when the economy went south in the early 80’s moved it up on the heights where the Mesquitery is now. It was just a block from their home on 13th Street (now the Thai House). The business failed, and Ida went to work for Denturist Gary Hornbeck on the heights where she worked for a couple of years. In 1986 she got a job for Columbia River Inter-tribal Fisheries Enforcement as a police dispatcher for the four Indian treaty tribes, Yakama, Nez Perce, Warm Springs, and Umatilla, where she worked for seventeen years. She retired in June of 2003

Serious health problems became a factor in 2004-2005, just after she retired, and continued throughout the rest of her life.

Ida is survived by her husband, Mel of Hood River; children, Shelli (John) Acton of Gresham, OR; Sheryl (Chris) Cardani of Eugene, OR; Cami (Kevin) MacDonald of Conway, MA; Darren (Meridith) Hatch of Gig Harbor, WA; Karen (Matt) Nerdin of Santa Barbara, CA; 20 grandchildren.

Ida was preceded in death by a sister she never knew (Marilyn), her parents, Floyd and Phyllis Jackson, and a brother, Narvin (Pink) Jackson.

A viewing will be held on Friday July 1, 2016 from 2:30pm - 4pm at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter - day Saints 1825 May Street Hood River, OR 97031 and a service will be at 4:00pm. Following the burial at Idlewilde Cemetery 980 Tucker Road Hood River, Oregon, 97031, there will be a reception at the Church.

Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson's Tribute Center (Funerals • Receptions • Cremations) 1401 Belmont Avenue, Hood River, Oregon 97031.

Please visit www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com to leave a note of condolence for the family.