Joyce Saunders Hudson

OBITUARY
JOYCE SAUNDERS HUDSON

Joyce Saunders Hudson passed away in Rathdrum Idaho on September 21 st at the home of her
Granddaughter Nicolle Hansen. Joyce was born November 15, 1928, at Ogden, Utah to Elmer
Samuel and Thelma Davies Saunders the second of five children. She joined one brother and as
the years went by they were joined by three sisters, Barbara, Helen and Lorna Dee. She lived
with her family in Preston, Idaho and Ogden Utah until 1939 when the family moved to
Missoula, MT.

She attended several grade schools in Preston, Idaho, Ogden, Utah and Missoula, Montana and
graduated from Missoula County High School in 1947. She worked at the Town Talk Café and
the original 4 B’s where she met Omer Hudson from Rexford, MT whom she married August 30,
1948. To this union were born three children, one son Vern Alan and two daughters, Peggy Jo
and Patty Jean. They lived on his parent’s ranch until Omer opened a machine shop in Eureka in
1954 and they moved into Eureka in 1955. She was a devoted wife and mother supporting her
husband in his business until his death December 20, 1971, and caring for their children.

She started as a volunteer ambulance attendant in 1964 and as a driver after 1973. She was an
ambulance volunteer for 36 years retiring at the age of 71 in 2000. She taught classes in first aid
and CPR for over 30 years. In 1972 she obtained certification as an EMT. In 1968 she was
appointed to the position of Justice of the Peace for Tobacco Township and then elected to that
office in 1970 and 1972 resigning in 1973, when she went to work as town clerk and treasurer
for the Town of Eureka filling that position for almost eighteen years until she retired in 1991.
As part of her job she dispatched for the law enforcement, fire and ambulance. After retiring she
volunteered as a dispatcher until the Eureka Area Dispatch District was organized with her help
in 1998. She served on the district board in the position of Chairperson until June 30, 2022
completing 24 years of service.

She had many hobbies including reading, sewing clothing for the family, making quilts,
embroidering, needle point, and doing crafts. Over the years she made needle work pictures for
each of her grandchildren. She was always close to her family spending time with them,
traveling at times to help out her children and especially her sister Lorna Dee.

She wrote a book for her family of her lifetime memories, a book of ambulance experiences and
was working on family history stories.

She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints all of her life raising her
family in the faith. She filled many positions from Primary president, Relief Society counselor
and as a teacher in Sunday school, Primary, and Relief Society.

She was preceded in death by her husband Omer (O.B.) her son, Vern Alan, her parents, her
brother Vernon Saunders and his wife Thelma Saunders, her three sisters, Barbara Bryant, Helen
Fey, and Lorna Dee Williamson and two nephews, two nieces, two sons-in-law, Scott Derrick
and Leland Burgess, two brothers–in-law Walter Fey, and Dale Hudson as well as many dear
friends including Rudy Peck, Trudy Young, Helen Killian and Dolly Treece.

She is survived by two daughters Peggy Burgess and Patty Dickens-Turk and her husband Tom,
her son Alan’s wife Lynn, eight grandchildren, Nicolle (Russ) Hansen, Jeanine Worthington,
Brad Burgess, Cory (Brenda) Dickens, Chad Dickens, Matt (Monica) Hudson, Mary (Dave)
Wilken, Steve (Lynette) Hudson, and 8 great-grandchildren; Anthony Worthington, Acelynnn
Dickens, Chase, Sawyer, Kaelyn, Natalie Hudson, Andrew and Emily Wilken. Joyce is also
survived by her sister-in-law Edith Hudson of Eureka and her family, numerous nieces, nephews,
cousins, and friends including special friends, the Dolly Treece family to whom she was always
known as “Grandma Joyce”.

A visitation will be from 9:30-10:50 a.m. and a service to follow at 11 a.m., at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints of Eureka, MT. There will be an interment following the service at the Tobacco Valley Cemetery in Eureka, MT. In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Eureka Ambulance or Eureka Area Dispatch. Arrangements are under the Schnackenberg Funeral Home of Libby. Online condolences and memories may be shared by visiting www.schnackenbergfh.com. 

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