Gloria Elaine Hotchkiss

Gloria Elaine Hotchkiss was born March 1, 1931, in Bantry, N.D. to Torville (Tom) and Bernice Beck. She left this world on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2014, from Grand Coulee, Wash., surrounded by the family she loved, cared for and nurtured her entire adult life.

Gloria Beck married Dale Hotchkiss in Ephrata, Wash., in 1954 and together started what they believed was the most important part of their lives, raising a family together. Gloria enjoyed many activities with her family and friends among them were golfing, boating and camping. One of her greatest joys was raising and showing Arabian horses for over 30 years along with her husband Dale and daughter Cindy, where she made her lifelong friends and shared great moments together.

Gloria also owned the Trail West Motel for 25 years and the Smart Shop clothing store for 20 years, where she sold clothing and spent many hours mothering family and friends that would stop by, some of whom just needed someone to talk to.

Gloria's greatest joy was always her family, which included, not only her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, but also her sisters, nieces, nephews and their families, all of whom repaid her kindness and love when she became ill.

One granddaughter wrote a short note to her days before her death that sums up what Mom meant to all of us "Thank you for raising a mom that raised me to be who I am. Thank you for making sure cousins became friends and thank you for showing us that family always comes first. I love you and I'll miss you."

Gloria was predeceased by her parents, three sisters and a great-grandson; she is survived by her loving and dedicated husband of sixty years, Dale Hotchkiss; her children: Candice (Ed Stoner), John Hotchkiss (Debbie), Shelley Benson (Jim) and Cindy Fleming (Dan); grandchildren: Todd Stoner (Dawn), Heidi Gropp (Scott), Holli Anderson (Doug), Jeremy Leavitt (Brenda), Tony Leavitt (Heidi), Tyler Hotchkiss (Jaime), Crystal Benson, Mindy Dixon (Derrick), Kari Weston (Joe), Kim Riggs, Kami Stehman (Sean), Heather Jensen (Aaron) and Josh Fleming (Jennifer); 28 grandchildren; sister, Mildred Williamson and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held at noon at the Grand Coulee Church of the Nazarene in Grand Coulee.  Graveside services followed at Spring Canyon Cemetery in Grand Coulee. 

Gloria's family requests that any gifts be given in her memory to St. Jude Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Please sign Gloria's online register book at http://www.stratefuneralhome.com. Strate Funeral Home of Grand Coulee, is honored to be serving her family.