- Date Of Birth: November 21, 1931
- Date Of Death: January 2, 2018
- State: Idaho
Margaret Louise Olsen Drake left this world to be with her Lord and Savior on January 2, 2018, surrounded by her family and friends. Margaret was born on November 21, 1931, in a ranch house on Jackass Creek in Horseshoe Bend, Idaho, to George Olsen and Venita Olsen Bowers. Her Maternal and Paternal Grandparents were some of the first homesteaders in the Horseshoe Bend area. She had an older brother and two younger brothers. She grew up on that ranch, learning to ride horses at age 2 or 3, milking cows by the age of 4 or 5, hard work was something she learned early and continued as long as she physically could. She was an excellent cook just like her mom, but preferred working outside and was proud that she got to drive the derrick for her dad at age 10. By age 11, she started working outside the home, helping families with new babies, watching kids, cooking and cleaning. She took care of her younger brothers from a very young age so this work came natural to her. Her parents ended up divorcing and she gained a stepdad Frank Bowers, a stepmom Zella Olsen and a sister Barbara Hawkins.
Margaret attended grade school in Horseshoe Bend and High school in Emmett. She fell in love with Calvin Charles Drake at age 16, they dated awhile and then ran away to Winnemucca, NV and got married September 25, 1947. Her parents ended up loving him but weren’t very happy they did not ask permission first. She and Calvin had 4 children, Bob, Sue, Den and John, whom they loved very much. Calvin passed away from a farming accident June 30, 1990. This was a really hard time for her, they were so in love and had been together for close to 50 years! Later she and Dale Hanson formed a friendship which turned into much more. He has been her friend, partner and love for close to 27 years now. He took great care of her as her health deteriorated.
She was a truly beautiful woman inside and out, who was not only a great mom and wife but had many different jobs over the years, some of her favorites were order filler at Mountain States Wholesale, Census Taker, Boise County Director of Wicap, State Tax Commission Property Assessor, Boise County Clerk of the Court, the first woman deputized Boise County Officer, Co-owner/Book keeper of Drake Logging, and Boise County Commissioner.
Several close calls throughout her life has proven beyond doubt that the Lord has walked beside her and did not take her one moment before he had planned. We take solace in that, but it does not lessen the emptiness we as her family feel without her presence, her wisdom, and her love.
She was preceded in death by her husband Calvin Drake, mother Venita Bowers, father George Olsen, stepmother Zella Olsen, brothers, Lavern Olsen, Vance Olsen and Gerald Olsen, her son, John Drake, a grandson Bryan Drake, a great granddaughter Makynzee Bennett.
She is survived by her partner, Dale Hanson, her son Bob (Linda) Drake, her daughter Sue (Don) Rumsey, son Dennis (Kate) Drake, life partner of John, Steve Dutoit. Her sister, Barbara Hawkins. Seven grandchildren, several great and great-great grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews.
