Elaine Mitchell Houger

Heaven received a sweet, loving lady when Elaine Houger was ushered in to meet her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. On January 10, 2016 she left this earth with her husband of 67 years holding her hand.

Elaine was born on May 5, 1928 in Grangeville, Idaho. Her biological parents were Jon and Ona (Hall) Undeen. She was the youngest of seven children and, after the death of her mother, was adopted by Ernest and Ethel (White) Mitchell when she was a year old. She joined two older brothers.

The Creston Christian Church, which was affiliated with the Disciples of Christ, was near and dear to Elaine’s heart, as her dad was the minister there for many years. She was musical and sang at many weddings and funerals when she was young. She enjoyed playing hymns on the piano but wanted the tunes to be upbeat and quick. Taking up the flute was another interest when she played in the school band. Just a few years ago, she dusted her flute off and played with the Creston Alumni Band at several of their reunions.

She graduated from Creston High School in 1946 and attended Northwest Christian College in Eugene, Oregon for two years. On June 27, 1948 she married her longtime friend and high school sweetheart Merwin Charles Houger at the Creston Christian Church. Their first home was on the Mangis homestead, south of Creston, where they started their livelihood of ranching and farming. Elaine contributed substantially in making their farm a successful business.

Elaine and Merwin raised five children, three daughters and two sons. She enjoyed sewing and made many outfits and costumes for various occasions. The Creston Community Day parades often had a small float that was designed and put together by Elaine. Her children, and later her grandchildren, were the characters riding or pulling the float. For the last fifty years, she made a breakfast pastry called French Crescents at Christmas time. As her family grew, so did the number of rolls she had to make. She had a knack for making soft caramels as well as many other delicious recipes. She loved her family and supported them in many different ways. No dilemma was too big for her to tackle. Her problem solving skills were a blessing many times over. She also had a great memory demonstrated time and time again when she’d retell a joke and, unlike many people, actually remembered the punchline! Elaine was a gifted conversationalist and loved to visit with others. She had a deep love for her country and held fast to the ideals of the Constitution of the United States. She enjoyed a lively theological or political discussion.

Her fear of heights was well known to her family. She tried to discourage people from indulging in activities that went up. She’d find ways to keep from looking down like the time she took pictures with a movie camera during the entire gondola ride.

Elaine was involved in many different organizations throughout her life. She was baptized in the Wilbur Christian Church. As a teenager, she was honored as a Worthy Advisor to the Rainbow for Girls. She was a proud member of the Republican Party. She served for a number of years on the Creston Election Board. She was a member of the Ladies Aid Society, which later became the Christian Women’s Fellowship. The Creston Community Club, the Creston Alumni Association, and the Creston Cemetery Board all benefited from her service. She attended the Almira Community Church during these last years.

Elaine enjoyed several major trips with her husband. Destinations include Israel, Norway, and a five month mission trip to Lesotho in Southern Africa. It was in Lesotho where some very close friendships were formed and have endured. Just this past July, she had a memorable journey with Merwin and her granddaughter Lisa Rose to Okalahoma and met cousins from her biological mother’s side of the family for the first time.

All of her siblings preceded her in death, most recently her sister Jean Earl from Alaska and her brother Ben Shropshire from Yakima, WA. Those who have survived Elaine are her husband, Merwin, still living on the family farm, daughters Elizabeth Rose, and her husband Robert, from Creston, Janice’ Moule, and her husband Jim, from Grass Valley, California, Anita Sieg, and her husband Bob, from Hartline, WA, sons Loren, and his wife Colleen, from Creston and Kevin, and his wife Rachael, also from Creston. Two sister-in-laws, Shirley Shropshire from Yakima and Joycelyn Madden from Creston, survive her as well. She’s survived by 15 grandchildren: Brian Rose, and his wife Stacey, from Delta, British Columbia, Shelby Rose, and his wife Rochelle, from Bozeman, Montana, Lisa Yoder, and her husband Tony, from Spokane, Washington, Jason Moule from Grass Valley, California, Jalaine Morgan, and her husband Troy, from Wilton, California, Aaron Moule from Grass Valley, Sean Moule, and his wife Bekah, from Long Beach, California, Jacob Moule, currently enjoying being a student at New Mexico Military Institute, Heidi Lee, and her husband Aaron, from Kearns, Utah, Nicholas Sieg, and his wife Michelle, from Auburn, Washington, Grady Houger from Creston, Chelsa Wood, and her husband Dan, from Liberty Lake, Washington, Emily, and her husband Marcus, from Yakima, Washington, Aubrey Houger from Spokane, and Isaac Houger from Spokane. She has 12 surviving great grandchildren: Kaelen Rose, Takeyla Rose, Morgan Rose, Kody Rose, Tristen Rose, Jordan Yoder, Kolby Morgan, Kaden Morgan, Matthew Moule, Abigail Moule, Dominique Wood, and Chloe Wood. Two great, great grandchildren survive her: Evalette Farley and Kaine Gordon.

It is with sadness that we say goodbye to Elaine but we know that our loss is Heaven’s gain. May each of you feel the pull of Heaven as the Lord beckons you to come and dine with Him.

Viewing and services for Elaine have been scheduled for Friday, January 15, to celebrate her life. There will be a viewing at Strate Funeral Home in Wilbur from 10:00-12:00. The graveside service will be at the Creston Cemetery at 2:00 with a memorial service at the Creston Christian Church at 3:00 PM with Pastor Paul McArthur, officiating.

Those wishing to give memorials may consider the Almira Community Church, the Creston Christian Church, the Creston Cemetery District, the Creston Alumni Association or another organization of the donor’s choice. Please sign the online guestbook at www.stratefuneralhome.com. Strate Funeral Home, WILBUR, WA is caring for the Houger family.