Marquis News
Current News
March 19, 2010
Retired Idaho State Senator Crowned ‘Rose Queen’ at Marquis Companies Senior Living Facility
Marquis Skilled Nursing Resident and Retired Idaho State Senator, Claire Wetherell, Honored at Long Term Care Facility
Marquis Skilled Nursing resident, Claire Wetherell was named the official Rose Queen of Marquis at Shaw Mountain. Marquis Companies, a
skilled nursing, assisted living and home health care company, names a Rose Queen at each of its 25 locations across the western United States. These senior women then go on to be featured at the Rose Queen Tea, an annual tradition that coincides with the Rose Festival in Portland, Ore. An Idahoan Legacy
Claire Wetherell is no stranger to the ins and outs of Idaho. The state, its residents and decision makers in healthcare, politics and veteran affairs, can all attest to the sincere impact that Ms. Wetherell has had on shaping the communities in and around Idaho.
Born in South Dakota, Ms. Wetherell obtained her degree in Pre-Nursing from the University of California at Berkley and a degree in Nursing from the Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in 1942 where she graduated with honors. Claire became a registered nurse and soon after enlisted in the US Navy Nursing Corps where she was stationed in Bremerton, Wash. to aid ailing naval personnel. It was here that Ms. Wetherell met Robert, her soon to be husband and pharmacist’s mate, also stationed at the Bremerton base.
The Wetherell family, now four members larger, eventually landed on Mountain Home, Idaho as their place of residence. When Ms. Wetherell arrived in Mountain Home there were no paved roads and no hospital due to the resident doctor leaving shortly after her arrival. This left her in a precarious situation as the sole medical provider in the small town. Rising to the occasion, she helped bring a physician to the community and eventually the Elmore County Hospital – a practice that has continued to serve residents since 1955.
Seeing the effect that one person can have on a community inspired Ms. Wetherell to continue in her pursuit of community service. She began as president of the Business and Professional Women’s Group, the Mountain Home Catholic Church Alter Society, and eventually the vice-chair of the Idaho State Democratic Party. Years of experience cemented her influence in politics, which lead to an eventual presidential position with the Mountain Home Chamber of Commerce – the first woman to hold the position. She then went on to serve in the Idaho State Senate for 12 years before retiring in 1996.
Ms. Wetherell recently had two honors of note – Mountain Home’s newest park was named in her honor and her story was told amongst the legislature in Idaho State. Both tributes speak to the impact that this one nursing student from South Dakota had on an Idaho community and its future residents still to come.
A Future Rose Queen
This will be the 16th annual Marquis Companies’ Rose Queen Tea and will be held Wednesday, April 21 in Portland, Ore. The event celebrates age, wisdom, wit and lives of senior ladies who currently make their home in a Marquis facility. Each Marquis Rose Queen will be escorted to the event, usually by a younger family member such as a grandson. The Rose Queen’s will be highlighted and judged by the Royal Rosarians, after which they will name the “Queen of Queens” and she will receive her award on stage.
About Marquis Companies
Marquis Companies provide skilled nursing, long-term care, assisted living and memory care throughout its 26 facilities in Oregon, California, Montana, Idaho and Nevada. Marquis’ sister company, Consonus, provides pharmacy, rehabilitation, staffing and consulting to the long term care community. Both family-owned companies share the mission to promote the vitality within everyone each company serves and its employees – and created its Vital Life Foundation to fulfill that mission.
