Rhea June Paige
Rhea June Paige
Rhea June Paige, 85, of Meridian, died Saturday, September 3, 2016 in a Salt Lake City care center.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, September 13, 2016 at Parkview Christian Church, Meridian, Idaho. A viewing will be held prior to the service from 10:00-10:45 a.m. Burial will be at 1:00 pm. at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery.
Rhea was born June 4, 1931, in Nampa, Idaho, the daughter of James Hansen and Velma Snead Hansen. She grew up in Nampa and Pocatello, Idaho, and attended Pocatello High School. She graduated with high honors from Idaho State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in piano performance and a Master of Arts degree in Education. On September 18, 1955, Rhea married the love of her life, Earl Paige, at Central Christian Church in Pocatello, ID. They resided in various places in Idaho, including Pocatello, Salmon, Hailey, Boise and Meridian.
Learning, performing and teaching were among Rhea’s joys in life. She studied with many great teachers, including a former Dean of the Juilliard graduate school, Dr. Oscar Wagner, and Boise’s Dr. Del Parkinson, a graduate of Julliard and professor of piano at Boise State University. Rhea managed a private piano studio and had the opportunity to do some recital work in Oregon, Utah and Montana. She was invited two consecutive years to be the soloist with the Idaho State Civic Symphony and the Idaho Falls Philharmonic. She taught general music in Salmon, Hailey, and many local folks will remember being in her classes at Summerwind Elementary (Eastside Primary) and Ustick Elementary. She dearly loved children and putting together programs for parents, friends and families at school. It was her mission “to have each child experience success by achieving the highest level of performance of which he is capable.” In 1986, Rhea was named Meridian District Teacher of the Year.
Rhea enjoyed swimming, Jazzercising, bridge, china painting, and collecting Christmas ornaments. She was a member of University Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) which is now Parkview Christian Church. She dearly loved her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and served him as church pianist, choir accompanist, and was deeply involved in Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. Rhea was also a member of Alpha Chi Omega, Community Concert Association, Idaho Orff Association, National Education Association, Idaho Education Association, Meridian Education Association and Music Educators National Conference.
Rhea always put her family first. She has touched the lives of many people and will always be remembered by the sweet melody of her legacy of love.
Survivors include her children, Greg Paige (Karla), Salt Lake City, UT and Alison Bear (David), Boise, ID; grandchildren, Ryan Bear, Zach Paige and Jordan Bear.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents and siblings, J. Douglas Hansen and Gordon Hansen.
Memorials may be made to Parkview Christian Church, 201 W. Ustick Road, Meridian, ID 83646.
1931 ~ 2016
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