Alda McIver

Alda McIver, age 87, died of causes related to age Monday, July 27, 2015. Alda was born Dec. 27, 1927, at Teakean, to Orval and Pearl Gainer Choate. Alda was raised on the family farm with two younger sisters, Alice and Agnes. When Alda was 3 years old, she began attending Sunday school at Teakean Brethren. She was baptized in the North Fork of the Clearwater River at age 10.

Alda wanted to be a teacher from an early age. When Alda was a child, she would line up empty shoes in front of chairs and begin to teach them. Her mother, Pearl, said she was pretty strict with those shoes, and this continued through her teaching career. She graduated high school as valedictorian in Orofino at age 16, and received her teaching certificate from Lewis-Clark Normal School in 1946. She began her teaching career at the age of 18 in a one-room school with eight grades.

Alda married Donald McIver on March 21, 1948, and together they raised four children on the family farm near Southwick: Norman, James, Phyllis and Debra. Alda quit teaching to raise the children, but once the children got older, Alda went back to school at the University of Idaho and received her bachelor’s degree in 1972 and a master’s degree in 1977. Alda taught 27 years, spanning more than four decades, in Teakean, Orofino and Cavendish. Family, church and teaching were the main focuses of Alda’s life.

Alda was a member of First Christian Church in Clarkston, where she taught Sunday school and sang in the choir.

Alda was also a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma sorority, Evergreen Grange, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, Twin River Genealogical Association, Nez Perce County Historical Society, spokesperson for breast cancer, the Red Hatters and a few other organizations. Alda enjoyed traveling and playing cards.

Alda was preceded in death by her husband, Donald; son Norman; daughter Debra; grandson Michael; granddaughter Nicci; and daughter-in-law Jan.

Alda is survived by her son, James and wife Jackie of Lewiston; daughter Phyllis Parks of Tacoma; son Douglas of Hermiston, Ore.; grandchildren Amy and husband Jason, Jamie, Deci and Wendy; great-grandchildren Toby, Tyler, Emily, Carly, Kylee, Joey, James, Donvan and Dominic; and great-great-grandson Jonathan.

Alda donated to many charities, so the family asks for donations to be made to the charity of one’s choice. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at the First Christian Church, 840 10th St., in Clarkston. A reception will follow and burial will take place at 2 p.m. at the Pine Trees Cemetery in Southwick.