Barbara Joanne Williams Skuse, passed away Saturday, October 14, 2017 peacefully at her home with family by her side.

Joanne, as she was called, was born December 1, 1928 in Ashton Idaho to Joseph James Williams and Effie Bainbridge Williams, the third child of four.

She spent her early years in Ashton and then traveling with her family while her father worked for the Bureau of Reclamation testing potential dam sites throughout the west. She told stories of her mom making a home anywhere they landed, from old pool halls to tents by the river. Her family moved to Los Angeles, California when her mom needed treatment for cancer. It was there that she met and married Merlin Skuse, a country boy from Michigan.

They lived in Los Angeles until 1954. At that time Merlin became homesick and moved the family back to Michigan. There they raised three children, Scott, Carol, and Judy. In Michigan they operated a cow/calf farm where Joanne feed the chickens and calves while Merle worked at meat market 32 miles away, working their own cattle during "off-time". Always entrepreneurs they soon opened their own butcher shop and retail meat market, followed by a second location in a neighboring town 25 miles away. After that they bought farm ground to establish a feedlot to supply the cattle for their stores, and of course, raise the feed for the cattle. After retirement they referred to those times as "the good old days!"

In 1959 Joanne lost her brother Bob, his wife Coy and their three children, Steven, Michael, and Christie in the Hebgen lake earthquake/landslide, a loss from which the family never really recovered.


Joanne was accomplished at handiwork, making many cross-stitch pictures and crocheted doilies, one of which adorns her casket. These items will be treasured forever by her kids and grandkids. She was a meticulous housekeeper and took joy in making her house a home.

Son Scott joined the navy and lived in many places before settling in Houston, Texas. Both daughters, Carol and Judy, migrated to Idaho. When they retired, Joanne and Merle moved to Idaho to be by the girls and their families. Even in retirement she worked part time. She loved being busy and worked so hard to always do her very best. She loved us all without qualification and we will miss her unwavering love.

Survivors include husband Merlin Skuse of St. Anthony, son Scott Benton, wife Louisa, grandsons Tyler and Nicholas, all of Houston. Daughter Carol Davis, grandchildren Jared and Brett Davis, Jennifer Maupin, and Erin Benson, of Saint Anthony and Kelly Davis Moseley of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Daughter Judy Hobbs, husband Jim, and grandsons Jeff Davis of Saint Anthony and Todd Davis of Idaho falls, along with 20 great grandchildren and two great-great granddaughters, and sister Helen Miller of Saint Anthony, along with numerous nieces, and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Joe and Effie Williams, brother Bob and family, sister Mary Osborn and niece Sheryn Miller.

The family would like to give special thanks to Carol Wilson who has been her faithful caregiver and loved her so much. Also thanks to Doc Heiner for his incredible listening approach to health care, and Encompass Home Health and Hospice for their loving care of mom.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am Wednesday, October 18, 2017, at the Community Presbyterian Church, 47 West 3rd North in Saint Anthony. The family will greet family and friends Tuesday evening from 5:30-7:00 p.m. at Bert Flamm Mortuary, 581 East 1st North in Saint Anthony and on Wednesday from 10:00-10:45 am. at the church. Burial will be in the Pineview Cemetery in Ashton.