Mildred Louise Davis Bachich, BHS 1936?

Mildred Louise Davis Bachich, BHS 1936?
Oct. 13, 1918 — April 7, 2011

Mildred Louise Bachich, 92, passed away at home Thursday with her daughter by her side.
She was born at home on the family farm in Lyle, Minn., the second youngest of seven children born to Ralph Garfield Davis, and Nellie Viola (Siberling) Davis.

At the age of 6, her family moved west. They settled in Burbank, Calif., where she graduated from Burbank High School.

During WWII, she was among the cadre of women famously referred to as Rosie the Riveter. She worked at the Lockheed Boeing plant in California, where she wired Bombardier doors. During these years she married Robert Price, and gave birth to a daughter, her only child. They divorced after a couple of years.

In 1946 she married Fred Bachich, her lifelong companion. He was a mining supervisor and leased mines throughout the west. With her adventuresome spirit she loved her new life living in many remote areas in California, Nevada and Idaho.

With her sense of creativity and decorating, she was the consummate homemaker. She was an accomplished seamstress, making everything from drapes and upholstering furniture, down to wardrobes for the smallest storybook dolls. She also enjoyed needlework and excelled at knitting and crocheting, all of which she did throughout her life. She was a lifelong, avid reader, and always challenged herself with the hardest of crossword puzzles.

She loved their retirement years, back in the wilderness of Idaho, where they started their married life. They lived in the small town of Yellow Pine for almost 20 years, before moving to be closer to their daughter in Oregon. During those years she was known as the Hedda Hopper of Yellow Pine, writing articles for the Yellow Pine Gazette, a monthly newsletter of happenings in the surrounding area.

She thoroughly enjoyed the outdoor activities her life offered. She loved fishing, and was proficient in the art of fly-fishing, and even made her own flies. She made picnics of wood cutting expeditions, laying in their winter supply. Yearly vegetable gardens and fresh eggs from her chickens were a treat in the remote backcountry.

During her years in Oregon, she particularly enjoyed her gardening, and was known for her beautiful roses. She loved spending time with her family, especially summer trips back into Yellow Pine, and to Gold Beach, on the southern Oregon coast where her granddaughter and great-grandchildren lived. Always a cat lover, her current companion was a beautiful rag doll named Tazi.

She was proud to be a member of DAR (Daughters of the Revolution), which she joined along with her daughter and granddaughter.

Millie is survived by her daughter, Beverly Wilson of Salem; grandchildren Kristin Nyeland of Gold Beach and Erik Nyeland of Salem; and great-grandchildren Garrett and Raef Williams of Gold Beach.

She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Leslie, Loren and Norman Davis; three sisters Alice Schroeder, Irma Sinclair and Audrey Trout; and husband Fred Bachich.
She was well loved; much admired and will be missed forever.

A memorial celebration will be held in Yellow Pine, Idaho, at a later date this summer.
Memorial contributions may be made to Evergreen Hospice in her name, for their wonderful caring support during the last few months. Fisher Funeral Home is handling arrangementsWednesday, April 13, 2011