Margaret Elizabeth Gudgel

Margaret Elizabeth White Gudgel went to be with her Lord on March 22, 2014.

Margaret was born to Walter E. and Elizabeth (Bess) Brewer White on December 23, 1928, in Jerome, Idaho, where she was raised with her brother Joe. She had many fond memories of Sunday dinners with her relatives in Shoshone, and frequent excursions to the Wood River Valley to check on the family sheep business and to accompany her father on visits to his banking clients.

Margaret went to college in Boulder, Colorado where she took classes in music and office administration. She was working in Boise, Idaho for Idaho Power Company when she met her future husband Omar S. Gudgel. They were married in 1957 and had two children, Barbara Gudgel Kehrer (Tom) and Steven Gudgel (Maja). Once her children could get on the school bus by themselves, Margaret went back to school at Idaho State University in Pocatello, where she received her teaching certification. The family then moved to Salmon, Idaho where Margaret was a school librarian and a third grade teacher for the next 21 years. She retired in 1993 and enjoyed a full life volunteering and pursuing her many interests with her many friends. Margaret played the piano beautifully from a very young age. She loved to travel and participate in any and all activities with the Salmon United Methodist Church, the PEO Sisterhood, Delta Kappa Gamma, sewing circle, bridge club, and countless other interests. She was a good friend who, among other things, happily chauffeured her friends any and everywhere and would sit with them if they were ill or housebound. As a loving mother and grandmother, we are missing her very much.

Margaret is survived by her daughter Barbara Kehrer and husband Tom, and her granddaughters, Meghan and Erin Kehrer, all of Hailey, ID; and her son Steven Gudgel and wife Maja, her grandson Kevin Gudgel and great grandson Landon Gudgel, all of Bend, OR.

Her family wishes to express their thanks to the staff of Safe Haven Assisted Living for their care over the past 2 ½ years; to the Senior Connection for the special work they do; and to the Hospice and Palliative Care of the Wood River Valley for the professional and respectful care they showed us all.

If you would like to make a donation in Margaret’s name, please consider the Alzheimer’s Association of America, the Hospice and Palliative Care of the Wood River Valley, or PEO International.

A memorial service is being planned for Saturday, March 29th at the Salmon United Methodist Church, in Salmon, Idaho. Interment will follow on Monday on the Shoshone Cemetery.