Melba (Hale) Heiner

Melba Hale was born August 29, 1921,  to her wonderful parents,  Edna Alice Poulton and Ursel Aroet Hale.  Melba was the second born of ten children.   She grew up in Oakley,  Idaho at the Buckhorn ranch in the summers and when the weather got too bad, and snow too deep, they would move into Oakley so getting to school wasn’t so difficult. 

When Melba was only 17 years old she fell in love and married her high school sweet heart  Bill,  Orville William Heiner.  They were married on September 7th, 1938.  In 1957, their marriage was  solemnized in the Logan, Utah Temple.   They were sealed together and to their children for time and all eternity.  They spent 72 wonderful years together. Together they had 5 children who all adore her and thought they were Melba’s favorite.  Larry Orville Heiner dec (Dayle)of Chester Virginia, Edna Lucille Cranney (Gary) of San Marcos, California, Bonnie Jean Jackson (Bob) Alpine, Utah, Virginia  Kay Pinch Ward (Forest) of Twin Falls, ID and Margaret Cristine Rich (Randy) of Rupert ID.

Melba and Bill loved to camp, fish, and  travel. They spent many summer days with their boat on the snake river playing in the water with family and friends.  The grandkids were so blessed to get to go camping with grandpa Bill and “Bubba”.  Mom had an adorable sense of humor.  That’s probably what drew so many people to her.

After Bills retirement  they became snowbirds and spent 30 winters in California.  While in California they served in the San Diego Temple for many years, until Dad’s health prevented him from continuing.  But even then, Mom continued to serve with her daughter Lucy. Melba was an amazing cook. We all remember the amazing meals she would prepare when there was hardly anything in the pantry or fridge.  She and Dad owned OW’s cafe for many years where she used her talents cooking many, many meals.  When she tired of running her own cafe she went to work for Cloyd Taylor at Prices Cafe in Burley. She worked there until her retirement.

Melba was such an amazing artist. She loved to sew, draw, tool on leather projects , paint on china,  and even gather feathers to make hatbands.   There was nothing she couldn’t or wouldn’t do for her family.   Her artwork fills our homes.  Melba’s posterity will be blessed by her talents for generations to come.

Melba is survived by her twin brothers  Tim and Tom Hale,  4 daughters and their spouses,  20 grandchildren, 78 greats, and  27 great-greats with 2 on the way.  She was preceded in death by her parents, 5 sisters and 2 brothers.  Her eternal companion Bill, (June 2010), her son Larry Orville Heiner, a grandson Ryan Euzene Rich, and great-grandson Brady Orville Heiner.

We would like to thank Countryside Care and Rehab Center in Rupert for their loving care and  kind compassionate service to our mother.  She loved you all !!!

Funeral services will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 20, 2019 at the Rupert West Stake center. (26 South 100 West Rupert, Idaho 83350)  A viewing for family and friends will be held on Friday, April 19, 2019 from 6:00 to 8 p.m. at Hansen Mortuary. (710 6th Street. Rupert, ID 83350) and there will be a viewing one hour prior to the service at the church.

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