Mildred 'Millie' Alice Fournier

Jun. 13, 1920 - Aug. 28, 2014

Date of Service: Sep. 9, 2014

Mildred “Millie” Fournier

RUPERT - Mildred Alice “Millie” Fournier, age 94, of Rupert, passed away on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2014, at the Minidoka Memorial Hospital.

Millie was born on June 13, 1920, in Rupert, Idaho, the daughter of Thurmond and Grace Jones Culley. In 1922, Millie moved to the Minidoka Dam with her family, when her father began working for the Bureau of Reclamation. Growing up at the dam provided the perfect spot for one of Millie’s favorite things to do - swimming in Lake Walcott with her brother and sisters during hot summer months. As Millie blossomed into a beautiful young lady, she exchanged her swimsuit for her new favorite activity - dancing at the Y-Dell and other dance halls in Rupert with her sisters! It was at one of these dances that she met Hank Fournier, who became her husband of 70 years.

In 1943, Millie and her sisters traveled to Portland, Oreg., and worked at the shipyard to support the war effort while Hank served in the United States Marine Corps. After the war ended, Hank and Millie settled at Minidoka Dam where they welcomed their son, Gary, two years later. Millie had met her calling and became the consummate wife and mother! In 1962, they moved to Boulder City, Nev., where Hank worked at Hoover Dam, and, after 13 years there, they returned to Rupert when Hank retired.

Hank and Millie loved to hitch-up their trailer house each winter and head south to warmer climates in Nevada and Arizona. In 1976, when Gary got married in Hawaii, Millie bravely experienced her first airplane ride. There were bets as to whether or not Hank would get her on that plane!

Millie is survived by her son, Gary (Raegene) Fournier of Marysville, Wash.; one granddaughter, Dawn; one great-grandson, Zachary; three step-granddaughters, Miki Calbero, Viki Sung and Tami Cusi; five step-great-grandchildren; one sister, Gladys Massio of Rupert; and special nieces and nephews, Kathy and Don Mooso of Rupert, Judy and Clyde Parkin of Rupert, Patricia Culley of California, Phillip Culley of California, Bob and Peggy Massio of Rupert, and Ron and Sandy Massio of California.

Millie was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; one brother, Hurshel Culley; a sister, Mary Jo Gosney, and their spouses.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 9, at the Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley. Burial will follow at the Rupert Cemetery.