The following obituaries appeared in the September 19, 2018 edition of the Star Valley Independent.
For more local obituaries, please visit Schwab Mortuary.
Darlene Rae Rodda Christensen, 78, passed away September 11, 2018 in Murray, Utah. She was born November 8, 1939 to Ruth Florence Adams and Joseph Rodda. Darlene married Richard Roland Christensen in 1956. Richie was the love of her life. The two of them were inseparable, raising a family and traveling. They loved the cabin in Wyoming and spent many years enjoying the time they had up there. In the 70’s she took on the name of Mother Nature, it was a name she took with great pride. It was not a good thing to mess with Mother Nature. She worked at Costume Jewelry for 30 plus years. She could make friends wherever she went. She will be deeply missed by her three children, Rick (Tawny) Christensen, Suzette (Mike) Fowlks, and Tiffany (Mike) Snyder; four loving grandchildren, Brad (Crystal) Fowlks, Leslie (Joshua) Fowlks-Warner, Caitlin Christensen and Colter Christensen; three adorable great grandchildren, Wyatt and Bridger Fowlks, and Shelby Warner; and a sister, Ruth Ann (Dennis) Petersen. She had grand puppies and great grand puppies as well. Darlene has joined Richie’s side and they are smiling down on all of us. If you knew Darlene or she touched your life in some way a memorial will be held September 23, 2018 from 11-3 p.m. at Copper Hills Clubhouse, 5584 Frisco Drive, West Jordan, Utah.
Jill Marie Clark Erickson passed away September 15, 2018 after an admirable struggle with cancer.
She was born to Grant and Lovey (Woodrum) Clark on June 24, 1942. Jill is survived by her best friend and dear husband of 57 years, Dr. Kent Call Erickson. They have seven children, Marie (Tom) Cook, Debbie (Troy) McArthur, Beverly (Kenneth) Cheshire, Sidney (Dan) Coulson, Kasey (Danielle) Erickson, Rodney (Angela) Erickson and Leslie (Bob) Glodowski. She is also survived by her brothers, Perry and Troy Clark, and her sisters, Janet (Val) Perry, Rosemary (Archie) Wood and Tracey (John) Baugh. She is proceeded in death by her parents, her sisters Mona Izatt, Becky Kudar and brother Arnold. Jill spent her life serving others. As a mother of seven, grandmother of 25 and great-grandmother to nine children, she demonstrated Christ-like love and kindness to each. Every child had no doubt that she loved them with all her heart. Cooking with helpers in the kitchen was one of her many specialties. Jill attended elementary school in Freedom, Wyoming. She graduated from Star Valley High School, later became a Certified Nurse Assistant and earned a Tech Class level Amature Radio License. Growing up, Jill helped her dad on the family farm. She always said she would rather be doing the outside chores than having to be stuck inside doing house chores. Jill helped support Kent and their young family while Kent attended the University of Utah and later the Loyola Dental School in Chicago. She tended children in their home – and, in total, potty trained 23 children. After graduating from Dental School, Kent and Jill settled in Lander Wyoming, and later moved to Douglas, Wyoming, where she worked as the office manager for Platte River Dental. Jill served in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints without hesitation, having many leadership positions in the women’s, youth’s and children’s organizations. She shared her love of the Savior through music with playing the organ or piano or leading the congregation in singing hymns. Jill and Kent put aside their own wants and faithfully performed a service mission for three years. She served in the community as an election judge, as a volunteer for children with learning disabilities in the school, and, most importantly, she served as a neighbor and friend to all she met. Funeral services will be held in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel in Douglas on Friday, September 21 at 4 p.m. A graveside service will be held in the Freedom, Idaho cemetery on Monday, September 24 at 11 a.m. We welcome all to celebrate with us the life of Jill, dear wife, beloved mother, extraordinary grandmother and friend.
Jonathan Clinger was born on October 23, 1977. Jon returned to his Heavenly Father on September 11, 2018 from a sudden cardiac arrest at the age of 40. Jonathan was born in American Fork, Utah. He was raised in Freedom, Wyoming. Graduated from Star Valley High School in 1996. He served two years in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin Mission, for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If you knew Jon, then you were lucky enough to know one of the most honest, hardworking men around. He was a true craftsman and known for breaking out his chainsaw and cutting out windows, floor joists and beams more precisely than most framers could with a skill saw. Jon was a true one of a kind man, he could do anything, whether it’s building his own trailer, welding, shoeing his own horses, cooking and baking his phenomenal fudge and cookies, or working on vehicles. Jon loved the mountains and hunting. He was always looking at maps and planning his next trip! The most incredible thing about Jonathan was his love he had for his wife and children. His spirit and love was contagious and just being around him made you want to be a better person! Jonathan will be deeply missed. Jon is survived by his wife Julie; children Shelby, Gabe, Kylee and Taylor; parents Melvin and Renae; and siblings Matt (April), Nathan (Elizabeth), Kimberly (Steed), Kristine, Kathryn (Clint), Nathaniel (Julie), and Ethan (Lacey). Jon is preceded in death by his niece Addy; grandparents Darwin and Arlean Clinger, and Wesley and Verna Olson; uncle Marty Clinger, who shared an equal love of the outdoors and horses, plus other aunts and uncles who he loved dearly. Funeral services were held Saturday, September 15 at the Draper 7th Ward Chapel, in Draper, Utah.
Ryder Derek Haderlie was born October 30, 2003 at 9:07 p.m. just a few hours before Halloween. Ryder passed away on September 13, 2018 at the age of 14 after succumbing to his head injuries from a tragic accident. He was born to Derek and Shandi Haderlie of Afton, Wyoming, and was greeted by an older Sister Taylor. When he was one he spent almost six months living in a camp trailer and in the garage while our home was being built out at Broken Arrow. Ryder, as a baby was a kind, cuddly boy and had the most infectious smile, something that never left. After 3 years of being the baby his brother and partner in crime joined the family, Brock. Ryder, even from an early age put other people’s needs before his own. On the playground, he would seek out the kids in need of a friend. He was very involved in scouts earning his Arrow of Light. He then went to the Boy Scouts, doing everything on his own, and was about to begin his Eagle Project building bird nests for Lower Valley Energy. At the age of 4 Ryder endured the hardest thing anyone ever could. He had to say goodbye to his Daddy Derek, as he slipped away to the next life in 2008. At times his pain was so deep he would just cry in his mommy’s arms. He had comfort in knowing he would see his Daddy again and that he was named after him. 10 months later God sent Ryder a very special gift. A new daddy. Daddy Dave. Daddy Dave (Major) brought a whole new light to our family. Ryder opened up that huge heart of his and welcomed him into the family. In the years after that Ryder was blessed with four other brothers: Kiptyn, Taveta, Dresdyn and Carver. He loved all of his siblings so very much and was very protective of them. Ryder was the best baby sitter anyone could ask for. Ryder had a heart of gold. He would do anything for anyone. At service projects he was always the first to start and the last to finish. He would always help his teachers or lunch ladies at school even at the expense of being called a nerd. Early on Ryder discovered he had a talent in music. He played the trumpet, trombone, drums and sousaphone. Ryder just entered his freshman year and was excited to be a member of the band and Jazz Band. Ryder’s first job was working alongside his uncle Dustin and Papa Alan for Triple H Landscaping. He even got to help landscape the Star Valley Temple, a memory he held dear to his heart. Then he started work at Skyview Lanes in Afton working for his Aunt Kris. Ryder learned a lot of valuable lessons at this job. He then found a passion for bowling and had just started bowling on a league with his grandma Connie and his mentor and friend, uncle Kalen. Ryder was such a trooper, heading out with his Daddy Dave and brothers on many fishing trips and hunting excursions. Ryder earned the year round camper in scouts even on nights when it was well below zero. On the last day of his life, Ryder saw a friend in need and went to comfort them. That was Ryder.
Ryder was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He held the Aaronic priesthood and took it very serious. He served in his callings with full faith in the Lord. He was in the church Choir. He attended the temple quite often to do baptisms for the dead. He had a very strong testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ and in the plan of salvation. Ryder was preparing to serve a mission. It is with great pride that we tell you that Ryder has been called to serve his mission in Heaven. Ryder is survived by his father and mother, David and Shandi Major of Smoot, his siblings Taylor, Brock, Kiptyn, Taveta, Dresdyn and Carver. His grandparents: Alan and Valerie Haderlie of Afton, Connie Williamson of Afton, Mark and Debra Jacobs of Montpelier, Idaho, Julie and Lyndell Smith of Afton, Kent and Alice Major of Colorado. Many loving aunts and uncles and cousins. He is preceded in death by his Father Derek Haderlie, his grandfather Dee Booth, his aunt Decia Haderlie, uncle Skott Vigil, cousins: Brady Tanner, Halie Lowe, and Olivia Currier and many great grandparents. An account has been set up at the Bank of Star Valley in Afton, Wyoming under the name of Ryder Haderlie Family. P.O. Box 8007 Afton, Wyoming 307-885-0000.
Steve Jeffries was the first son of Richard and Dolores Jeffries.
He was a loving father of four children; Dina, Chad who is deceased, Jared and Kelsey Jeffries.
He also had seven grandchildren; two brothers, Tom (Laura) and Don (Donna) and a sister, Christine (Roger) Rodarte.
Steve was always willing to help out. He delivered meals from the Thayne Senior Center for nine years and helped out with the Thayne car wash.
He will be dearly missed by many family and friends.
