Rachael Elizabeth Banta

Pocatello -

Rachael Elizabeth Banta, 51, of Pocatello, passed away unexpectedly Monday, June 2, 2008 at her home.

Rachael was born on July 26, 1956 to Gerald Dewayne Freund and Cornellia Diannia Stikeleather in Anderson, Indiana. She attended schools in Indiana. She joined the Army and served with the 101st Airborne Rangers as a combat nurse and still holds her certification as a military nurse. On Sept. 22, 1975 she married Jerry Alien Ledyman in Saigon, Vietnam. They were later divorced. She then married Douglas Banta on June 30, 1986. She liked crafts and going to craft shows. She especially enjoyed going to garage sales on the weekends. She was born into a German Jewish family and was a convert to the L.D.S. Church.

She is survived by her husband, Douglas Banta, Pocatello; a daughter, Angelena Hazel Maria Michelleson, Dayton, Ohio; 4 brothers, Jushua David Freund; Michoa Donovan Freund; Stephen Klaus Freund; John Donovan Freund; 7 sisters, Mary Elizabeth; Deloress Cornellia; Maria Cornellia; Linda Sue; Rebecka Anna; twin sister, Sharon Kay; and Helen Maria. She was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband, a son and 3 brothers.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 7, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. at the Pocatello West Stake Center (Hawthorne & Eldredge) with President Mark Blanscett officiating. The family will receive friends on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at the church. Interment will be in Mountainview Cemetery with Military Rites provided by the Pocatello Veterans Honor Guard. The Southeastern Idaho P.O.W.-M.I.A. will escort the funeral procession to the cemetery. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Manning-Wheatley Funeral Chapel, 510 N. 12th Ave.