- Date Of Birth: December 21, 1926
- Date Of Death: November 6, 2018
- State: Idaho
Belva Arleen McKee was born in Oberlin Kansas on December 21, 1926, and passed away in her Meridian home on November 6, 2018, at the age of 91. Belva’s name of preference was Arleen, as most people came to know her.
Arleen was the youngest child out of a total of 9 children that her parents brought into this world. Her parents, William Uehlin (father) and Nina Decker (mother), were located in Kansas.
Due to the severe hardships of living in Kansas during the 1920’s and 30’s, the Uehlin parents sent two sons (Dallas and Dale) to venture out west and find a land of promise that held potential to have a better life. The two brothers ventured into the Fruitland, Idaho area and were excited as to what they found.
About 3 or 4 years later, Arleen and her parents, along with some of the other family members, moved to Baker, Oregon where Arleen then attended High School. Sometime later, Arleen received a letter from her brother Dallas who was living in California at this time, and asked Arleen if she would like to move to California. Arleen was working in a Candy Store in Baker for a very nice lady, and the lady offered to pay for 2 years of Arleen’s college if she would stay in Baker, continue to work for her, and then graduate from High School.
Around, 1954 or ‘55, Arleen started working in a small grocery store in Chino, California while raising her 3 children. She climbed the corporate ladder from being a cashier to bakery manager, giving Arleen the skills she needed to successfully operate a business she would later purchase for herself. Arleen effectively went a long way in life without ever graduating from High School.
Arleen and Dewey’s relationship ended in divorce, and later she married her now husband, Howard McKee. They were married on April 22, 1960 in Las Vegas. Howard has one Son named Herbert L. McKee, also known as Herbie, or Herb.
Around January of 1968, Arleen and Howard bought yet another business that was located in Enterprise, Oregon that they named McKee’s Drive Inn. This establishment served hamburgers, soft serve ice cream, and steaks.
After a year or so had passed, and Arleen and Howard bought the Enterprise Hotel, and converted this establishment into a senior care rest home that was re-named Pioneer Guest Home. They operated this business for several years, and then moved to Mountain Home, Idaho where they purchased and operated a mobile home park. Later they sold this business and moved to Kuna, Idaho where they owned and operated Ken’s Cash Corner, a grocery store, The Farm Store, and The Valley Plaza Senior Care facility located in Nampa, Idaho. The Valley Plaza was at one time known as Mercy Hospital.
Arleen is survived by her beloved husband, Howard McKee, an extensive list of family members consisting of sons, a daughter, step-son, nieces, nephews, great grandchildren, and great-great grand children
This compilation of Arleen’s life was gathered from stories that she shared with her son Ron Anderson, and from her son’s own personal experiences that he lived and shared with both Howard and Arleen.
Written on this day of November 8, 2018 by Arleen’s son, Ron Anderson.
