Margaret Chaney Phelps

Margaret Chaney Phelps died in a vehicle accident on July 31, 2026.

Margaret was born on February 12, 1949 in Challis, Idaho to Frank Chaney and Adina Kusler. She moved to a ranch west of Victor, Montana later in 1949 with her mother, father and sister Elizabeth. Margaret attended Victor school and graduated Valedictorian of her class in 1967.

She attended the University of Montana and graduated with a B.A. degree in Spanish with a teaching minor in business administration and graduated with honors in 1971. Margaret began a career in education as a high school teacher in Salmon, Idaho from 1971 to 1974. She moved to Twin Falls, Idaho in 1974 and taught in the office occupation department at the College of Southern Idaho from 1974 to 1980 and during this time received a master’s degree in education/business at the University of Idaho. During her time at Twin Falls she met Larry Phelps and after developing a lasting friendship they married and Margaret became a wife and educator, sometimes at the college and other times at home.

In 1981 Margaret and Larry moved to Pocatello, Idaho and Margaret worked for the ISU Vo-Tech’s Adult Education Program where she was responsible for a special grant which funded a word processing specialty option in the office occupations program. She also taught numerous courses in typewriting, word processing, business, English, business machines, spreadsheets and databases.

In 1987 Margaret was named director of special programs/evening classes in vocational-technical education at Idaho State University, a position she enjoyed until her retirement. Margaret was a member in the Idaho Business Education Association, Western Business Education Association, National Business Education, Delta Kappa Gamma, Professional Secretaries International and American Society for Training and Development. She also served as the Bannock County unit memorial chairman for the American Cancer Society.

She was preceded in death by her parents Frank and Adina Chaney, husband Larry, nephew Frankie and is survived by her sister Elizabeth (Rick) Ingraham, nieces Kathy Shinn and Virginia Thomas and nephew John Chaney, stepchildren Larry J. Phelps (Ann) and Lyn Phelps (Sharryl).

Margaret was a very positive person, always friendly, pleasant and willing to help anyone upon their request. Her favorite bible verse was Romans 12-18; “do all that you can to live at peace with everyone”. No one exemplified this statement better than Margaret, she will truly be missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing her.