Mrs. Bethine Church

(1923 - )

Bethine Church, an author and humanitarian, is the widow of four-term Idaho senator Frank Church. She has been in love with politics since age 13, when she met F.D.R. After graduating from the University of Michigan, she married her husband and followed him to Washington, D.C. On his death in 1984, she came home to Idaho and continued public service. She was appointed to the State Homecare Task Force, worked to establish the Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial in Boise, and became a delegate to the first Clinton Democratic convention. These contributions have earned her an honorary doctorate and recognition as one of the most influential Idahoans for several years.