Aretha Harvey Chilton was born April 8, 1913, the second of seven children in the Ora J. and Lillie Martin Harvey family at Harrisburg. She attended rural schools there until seventh grade when the family moved to Kamiah where she graduated in 1930.

She attended the University of Idaho where she earned a degree in education. She taught in rural schools for 10 years in Winona, Harmony Heights and Greer. In 1935 she moved with the family to Orofino.

She married Lee Chilton on Aug. 12, 1939 and they continued to live in Orofino and raise their three children. As the family grew, she was active in their activites and was a leader for 4-H, Camp Fire Girls and a den mother for Cub Scouts, as well as a little league baseball coach.

Aretha substitute taught in the Orofino schools for several years. She served as the Orofino librarian from 1959 to 1961. She then accepted the position of personnel assistant for the Clearwater National Forest. After her retirement in 1975, she and Lee traveled the lower 48 United States.

Aretha kept very busy with her numerous hobbies. She taught herself to do pine needle basket work, lapidary work, wood carving, needlework, quilt making, gardening, card making and wood work.

After Lee's death in 1985, she devoted much of her time to doing volunteer work for Hospice, her church, RSVP, the hospital auxiliary, the Board of Community Guardians and as service officer for the Retired Federal Employees for 20 years.

She was very willing to share her talents with others. Aretha was there when they turned the first shovel of earth to build Brookside Landing Retirement Community and she was its first resident. She passed away Nov. 17, 2011.

Trivia Archives

Sponsored by:

Want accurate, daily news for Orofino and Clearwater County? Subscribe to: Traditional news Today's technology It's a bargain at $3 per month, $18 for 6 months or $30 per year. (Idaho residents, please add 6% sales tax) Subscribing is easy: Drop us a check with your email address and we will sign you up. (See the mailing address at left) Pay online: Click this Registration link and follow the Pay Pal instructions.