The following obituaries appeared in the January 17, 2018 edition of the Star Valley Independent.

Elza Burton Huffaker, whom we love with all of our being, and beyond all time, has left us. Elza: Angelic daughter of Clifford and Leona Moser Burton was born April 29, 1943 and she passed away on Jan. 3, 2018. Elza is loved and adored by everyone as mother, grandmother and friend. She was bright, intelligent and the most beautifully dramatic and fascinating storyteller, you could ever meet. She always had a song in her heart and on her lips. Songs came into her heart and mind to fit almost any situation, which she would sing. She lifted our hearts and enlightened our minds. Elza had the most compassionate soulful beautiful blue eyes; she had the most loving tender smile; and, the most heartfelt, genuine, endearing laugh. You knew you were loved without her saying a word. Elza was devoted to her family, her Savior, and her faith. Like JeanShine, Mom did not go quietly into that dark night. She left her body in our arms after a long and harrowing struggle, to be embraced in the arms of her Savior, and embraced in the arms of her daughter Jean, by her mother and father, her brothers Vernon and Chad, and her grandparents. She left her devoted family: husband Keith, children Carrie, Cindy, Wendy, Edith, David, Carla, Tina, Nikki and David Keith. Siblings Orden (whom has now gone to join her), Genevieve, Kay, Betty, Shane, Twila and Terryl. Grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and friends that she loved dearly! We love you mother! Your example will live on in the lives of all you knew, loved and served without judgment and with true Christ-like charity.  Elza Burton Huffaker’s memorial services were held on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018 at the Clinton 9th Ward church, Clinton, Utah. Elza was interned in Bountiful at Memorial Lakeview Cemetery. Finally a post funeral vigil was held. It was a special gathering of friends, acquaintances and family who shared their reflections and love.

Gina Valerie Erickson Speth passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 4, 2018 at home after battling cancer for over a year. Her beloved husband, Bryan, and family were with her during this trying time. Gina was born on February 9, 1970 at Pocatello, Idaho to Peggy Erickson and the late Val Erickson. After a while living there, her family moved to Burley, Idaho for her dad’s work. While in Burley, Gina gained a sister, Keri. After about a year in Burley, the family moved to Pinedale, Wyoming so her dad could work for the Wyoming State Highway Department. While in Pinedale, the family was blessed with a son, Aaron who was born in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The family then moved to Star Valley, Wyoming.  Gina attended elementary, junior high school, and high school in Star Valley. In high school, she was active on the dance team, the cheer squad and also played junior varsity basketball and volleyball. Gina was also a photographer for the yearbook. In 1988, she was named as Star Valley’s first Junior Miss. She also graduated that year.  She attended college at the University of Wyoming for a year then when Keri graduated from high school, she moved to Provo, Utah to be with Keri who was attending BYU.
Gina married Andy Fullmer and their son, William Thomas, and daughter, Taylor Rai, were born to this union. They later divorced. Gina met Bryan Speth at a later date and they were married on January 1, 2011. They had a wonderful marriage and enjoyed each other’s companionship so much.
She worked in sales for most of her adult life. This is a hard work environment but she excelled at it.
Gina enjoyed attending the choir concerts and theater plays that William and Taylor were in. She also loved Yorkshire dogs and owned three of them which she spoiled a lot. She loved going to movies and eating popcorn. She said she rated the quality of the movie theater according to the quality of their popcorn. Gina was full of life and brought fun and laughter to all she met. Bryan was always “Baby B” to Gina and she was always “Baby G” to him. To her children, who nicknamed her Midge, she will be remembered as their fun mom who always made them laugh when she started singing or dancing in public. Her brother and sister will always be in awe that when they were little, she was strong enough to start the snow machine. To her mom, she will always be her precious first born. Gina is survived by her husband, Bryan, and son William and daughter Taylor as well as her mother, sister, brother and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father and grandparents.

Hilda Gwendola Anderson Titensor was born December 18, 1925 in Salt Lake City, Utah, to parents Homer LaVar Anderson and Hilda Sessions. Her mother died 10 days later from Ether Pneumonia. She was raised by her grandmother Isabel Sessions mostly in the Afton, Wyoming area. She was baptized into the LDS church August 8th, 1934, in the mill-pond East of Afton. She began tending the neighbor’s children, and received ten cents per hour. She lived most of her teen-age life with her grandmother Isabel Sessions and her aunt Valora Taggart and Valier Roos whose mother had died after she was born and was being raised by Valier’s grandmother Valora. They lived in the house that Phil Grosjean later purchased. When in Turnerville with cousins, she met Von Titensor. The summer after she graduated from high school, she started dating Von. They were married August 3, 1945, in Paris Idaho. Von was home on furlough from the U.S. Army. She spent the next several months in Oklahoma as an Army Wife, working again in a grocery store. After the war, she returned to Star Valley and moved to Jackson Wyoming where Von was employed in a family business (Jackson to Star Valley Bus Line). Her daughter, Sherry was born February 21, 1947. Due to an eye injury, her husband was forced to quit the family business; so they moved back to Star Valley and took up residence in Thayne, where Von was employed at the Thayne Cheese Factory. While living in Thayne, her first son Kim, was born March 7th, 1951. In the Spring of 1953, she and Von were offered employment as a couple, managing a retail clothing business in Afton. For the next five years, they were taught the retailing business by a wonderful teacher, John Mallory, who became their best friend as well as his wife Gladys. On February 21, 1958, she and Von were married for time and eternity in the Idaho Fallls, Idaho Temple, where their two children, Sherry and Kim, were sealed to them. Her second son Hal, was born on March 24th, 1959. At this time, she was employed as office Manager for the local doctor, Dr. O.D. Perkes. In spring of 1959, Von and Hilda bought a small grocery store in Afton, the Highway Market. The family moved into a 3-room apartment in half of the store, and began life in the grocery business. They operated the store for 17 years, and raised the family in the store. After the children were all married and moved on, they sold the Highway Market in 1975. After taking a month off to spend time in the hills hunting and fishing, they became restless. Von accepted a position with the town of Afton at the local golf course as Supt. Of Maintenance. Hilda was employed as office manager of the Lincoln County Mental Health, working with Dr. Sandle. She retained this job until she was 62, and then retired. She and Von starting taking vacations in the winter in St. George, Utah to spend time in a warmer climate. They would return to Afton for Von to work summers at the golf course, where he remained until he retired at age 74. They then began living six months in each location. On June 27, 2004, Von suffered a brain aneurysm and was sent to Idaho Falls, Idaho, where he passed away on July 8, 2004. She spent the next 6 winters in St. George, Utah, where she found comfort and companionship with her Sister-In-Law Verba Harmon. In the summer she spent time with her childhood friend LaDean Astle. She also spent quality time, during the summer, with dear cousin Valier, which was a highlight in her life. Her summers were spent quilting with friends, helping with Humanitarian quilts, providing service to others and spending time with her family. On October 21st, 2011 her oldest son, Kim, unexpectedly passed away while he was elk hunting in the South End. On November 1st, 2017, she made the choice to move to Beyond Home in Afton, Wyoming. She spent exactly 2 months and 6 days there. On January 6th, 2018 she passed away peacefully from this life to reunite in Heaven with her Family. She is survived by her two children Sherry Hoopes (Farrel), Hal Titensor (Nyla), Daughter in law Cindy Bagley Titensor (Kim, deceased), 12 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren and one great great grandson.

Julie Marie Bowers was born on December 31, 1980 in Gooding, Idaho. She was the youngest of two children born to Randy and Debbie Johannsen. Julie grew up in Nampa, Idaho where she met the love of her life Brian Bowers. They were married on June 3, 2000 and had three beautiful children together Mickalla, Miranda & Hayden. She also enjoyed being a grandma to Tristan, Scarlet and Hollee.  She moved to Thayne in January 2007 to be closer to her family. She started working for Star Valley Medical Center that year where she enjoyed working as a CNA. She then started working as a medical assistant for Star Valley Family Physicans. One of her lifes passions was caring for people. Julie and her family were part of the congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses here in the valley. She had a strong hope in the future where life would be free of sickness and death. She believed in the resurrection hope and looked forward to seeing her loved ones again.  Her services will be held on January 20, 2018 at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 90570 US 89, Grover at 1 p.m. The public is invited to attend her memorial.

Orden Moser Burton, of Idaho Falls, passed away at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center on Jan. 6, 2018 at the age of 83. Orden was born Dec. 30, 1934 in Auburn, Wyo. to Clifford and Leona Moser Burton. He was the oldest of ten children. He spent his youth in Auburn on the family farm where he enjoyed riding his horse. He graduated from Star Valley High School. He went to work in construction at the Jackson Lake Lodge, after which he attended Utah State for one year. Then he went back to construction working on the Palisades Dam. He started a concrete construction business, Burton Concrete Co., in 1966 which he successfully managed until 2002, at which point he passed it on to his two oldest sons. Orden married Erma Weeks in Irwin, Idaho in 1956. They lived in Salt Lake City one year, and in Phoenix, Ariz. before moving to Idaho Falls, where he lived with his family since. He and Erma were married 61 years and had four sons, Mark, Kelvin, and twins Brett and Brent. He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Orden was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting, fishing, water skiing, camping, biking to high lakes, snowmobiling, riding motorcycles, and camping with his family and friends. He was an honest, hard-working man who loved the outdoors. He was a loyal and caring husband, friend, father, brother, uncle, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He will be missed dearly by all who knew him. Orden is survived by his wife, Erma Weeks Burton, his sons, Mark (Carlee), Kelvin (Myra), Brett (Cristy), all of Idaho Falls; his sisters, Genevieve Tolman, Betty Mils, and Twila Boren, all of Utah; his brothers, Kay of Grover, Shane of Brigham City, Terryl of Roy, Wash.; 16 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clifford and Leona; daughter-in-law, Allison Goodworth; sister; Elza Huffaker; and brothers, Vernon and Chad. Funeral services were held on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018 at Wood Funeral Home East Side. Burial was in Fielding Memorial Park Cemetery.

Raymond Mena passed away from liver cancer on Wednesday January 10, 2018, he was 70 years old. He will be lovingly remembered by his wife Lynn of 32 years of marriage and sorely missed by many friends and relatives. Ray was raised in Phoenix, Arizona, along with his sister Susanne by his parents Ramon Mena and Geneva Brooker. He lived within walking distance of all of his grandparents and many other relatives who all helped raise him especially his beloved aunt Teddy. Ray was very proud of his military service. He served in Vietnam in the US Army. He was wounded twice in combat, once at the battle of Dak To. When Ray got out of the service he moved to Los Angeles. Ray was driving truck for the Star Valley Cheese Factory when he moved to Thayne Wyoming in the mid 70’s. He also worked in oil exploration for Shell Oil and for Tricon Lumber in Afton as a foreman and at Sunrise Lumber in Jackson as a foreman. His last job has been working at Jenkins as a forklift driver where he took great pride in his work as he did all of his jobs. One of Ray’s joys in life was talking with everyone who came into Jenkins he especially enjoyed giving his friends and coworkers a hard time whenever possible. Ray touched many lives in his lifetime with his quick witted humor and friendly outgoing way. His memory was amazing for anything he had a passion for, which was almost everything. He wanted only to have his ashes spread this summer far up the Greys river overlooking the areas that he loved so much for the camping, hunting, fishing, four wheeling and cutting firewood.