The following obituaries appeared in the January 22, 2020 edition of the Star Valley Independent.
For more area obituaries, please visit Schwab Mortuary.
Elvira Erickson passed away peacefully at her home in Lyman on 18 January 2020 under the loving care of her husband. She was born 21 March 1932 in her grandparent’s home in Grover, Wyoming, as the first child in the family of William and Zelda Swenson. She married her high school sweetheart, Ted Milton Erickson on 22 July 1952 in the Idaho Falls Temple.
Elvira graduated from Star Valley High School in Afton, Wyoming and attended one semester at the University of Wyoming in Laramie. She also studied music education at Ricks College.
Elvira loved music. As a young girl she taught herself how to play the piano. She passed that love onto her children who all play the piano and many of her grandchildren also play. She taught piano lessons and was a wonderful piano teacher; teaching students for over 40 years. She taught lessons to her great grandchildren right up until her last week. She also loved singing and was a charter member of the Cantabile Singers (Upper Valley Women’s Choir) singing for over 25 years until her health failed. She enjoyed serving as an organist in the Rexburg Temple up to the time of her passing. Elvira loved the 4-H program and lived it. Everything she did was blue ribbon quality. She enjoyed teaching a variety of projects including sewing, cooking, canning, health and Idaho History. Many children have benefited by her skills and knowledge. Elvira served for many years as a 4-H specialist in Madison County. She was often invited to judge at county fairs and in her home county of Lincoln, Wyoming. She was an avid genealogist and was very proud of her Swedish heritage. She especially enjoyed doing Swedish research. She and Ted visited the sites of their ancestors’ homes in Sweden – an experience they both cherish. Elvira’s true joy was her family which went beyond her home. If you knew her, you were her family. Always active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she served in many callings. Her favorite were music callings: Ward Music Chairman, Chorister, Organist, Choir Director and Dance Director. She and Ted enjoyed dancing and were members of the Holiday Dance Club until her health failed. Elvira and her Visiting Teaching companion Sue Blackburn served together faithfully for over 30 years. She and Ted served as ordinance workers in the Idaho Falls temple for eight years. She is survived by her sisters Arnell (Jay) Atwood, Nellene (Ralph) Burnside, Jessie Swenson, Chris Butterfield and Laura Swenson, and children Leif (Lynne) Erickson, Neil (Lori) Erickson, Leta (Byron) Bates, Janna (Jeff) Nelson, Sina Erickson, Summer (Mark) Mortensen, Frances Brown Jimboy and Stephen Bringsplenty. She is preceded in death by her parents and infant brother, Earl, two grandsons Jade Nelson and Blake Erickson. She has 22 grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be at 12 noon on Saturday, 25 January 2020 in the Lyman 1st Ward building, 1952 S. 2000 W., Rexburg. The family will meet with friends on Friday, 24 January 2020, from 6:30 to 8 pm and Saturday, 25 January 2020 from 10 to 11:30 am, in the Lyman 1st Ward building.Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.eckersellfuneralhome.com.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the humanitarian or missionary efforts of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Lorna May McCoy Hall, age 87, passed away peacefully at home, January 15, 2020, surrounded by her family. She was born October 17, 1932 in Afton, Wyoming, the youngest child of Murl Ray and Isabelle Bowles McCoy.
Lorna was a loving wife of James Clifford Hall and the mother of ten children, six boys and four girls. Lorna and Jim had the pleasure of being apart of the Indian Placement Program. So they added four Native American youth to their family for their Junior and Senior years at Pleasant Grove High School. Their names are Gary Setella, Lena Nelson, Delbert Bitsue, and Dennis Chatter.
Lorna and Jim were faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They served a mission in Nauvoo, Illinois and loved every minute of it. Lorna served many callings in the church and served them with love, kindness, and charity. She served in the Relief Society presidency, Stake Relief Society Presidency, Primary Presidency, as a Primary Teacher many times, as a Cub Scout Leader, a Visiting Teacher, on the Compassionate Service Committee and other various callings. She had many talents that she shared with family and friends, such as: sewing, crocheting, knitting, quilting, oil painting, tole painting, homemade card making, candy making. and creating all sorts of fun craft projects. The family’s favorites were the tins of homemade chocolates and the homemade wooden and tole painted Christmas ornaments that she gave to her children and grandchildren every Christmas.
Lorna was preceded in Death by her beloved husband, James Clifford Hall, their precious 5 year-old son, James (Jimmie) Murl Hall; granddaughter, Tannika Dawn White; grandson, Preston Lamar McCoy Hall; great-grandaughters, Taci Papworth, Evelyn (Evie) Grace Ashton, and great-grandson, Quintien David Gonzalez; her parents Murl and Isabelle McCoy, her half brothers and sisters, Warren Henderson, Anthon Henderson, Elda Henderson, Carl McCoy, Ruby McCoy, and her brothers, Glenn McCoy and Arlynn McCoy.
She is survived by her children, Christine (Ken) Johnson, St. George, Utah; Michael Jay (Penny) Hall, Washington, Utah; Lorneta (Gary) Ferguson, Hurricane Utah; Clifford Dee (Kimberly) Hall, Apache Junction, Arizona; Eileen (Leon)(Lumpy) White, Indianola, Utah; Robert Clyde (Isabelle) Hall, St. George, Utah; Arthur (Coy) McCoy (Sheri) Hall, Taylor, Texas; Gary Wayne (Stephanie) Hall, Santa Clara, Utah; Malinda (Kevin) Willett, Lindon, Utah; 47 grandchildren, 89 great-grandchildren, and 5 more great-grandchildren on the way.
Funeral Services will be held Saturday, January 25, 2020, at 2:00pm at the St. George 10th Ward Chapel, 591 West 500 North, St. George, Utah 84770. The viewing will be from 12-1:45 p.m. prior to services at the same location. Interment will be at the Tonaquint Cemetery.
Arrangements are made under the direction of McMillan Mortuary. Friends and family are invited to offer their condolences at www.mcmillanmortuary.com.
Lucy Joan Mullen, 83, having lived in Issaquah and Sammamish Washington for 45 years, passed away Friday, January 17, 2020. She was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2002 and was wheelchair bound since 2013. Following a family reunion in Afton, Wyoming, July 2019, she entered the care center in Afton, where she passed away peacefully from this life. She is the daughter of Edward O’Bray Miles and Louisa Barber Davenport, she was born in the Portland Oregon Hospital, December 18, 1936. She graduated from Tigard Oregon High School, class of 1955.
She married Charles Robert Mullen, October 8, 1959 in the community Methodist church by an Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They moved to Seattle, Washington following their honeymoon, Bob taking a job with Boeing in Aerospace. Bob joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints shortly after and they have been active ever since. Surviving her are her husband and six children: Tamara Lee Abbott of Woodinville, Washington, Jeffrey Robert Mullen of Priest River, Idaho, Cindy Lou Sypherd of Afton, Wyoming, Jennifer Lynn Swapp of Mapleton, Utah, Jill Lois Brezenski of Missoula, Montana, and Lisa Eileen Wyatt of Lynnwood, Washington. She has 21 grandchildren and four great grandchildren. In addition, three brothers: Jack of San Leandro, California, Mike of Canby Oregon, and Larry, as well as two sisters, Marilyn Kelsey of Castroville, California, and Shirley Dean of Sherwood, Oregon.
Her parents, three brothers, two sisters and two half-sisters preceded her in death.
Funeral services were held Monday, January 20, 2020 in the Care Center in Afton, Wyoming. She was buried in the Afton Cemetery the following day.
Pallbearers included: Josh, Tanner and Christopher Sypherd, Jacob and Jordan Swapp, Scott and Stephen Brezenski, Jesse, Adam and Josh Mullen.
On January 11, 2020 it saddens us that Pat Boedeker passed away suddenly in Casper, WY at the age of 62. She left behind family and friends that will miss her terribly. Pat was born December 26, 1957 to LaVera Hawk and Dave Boedeker in Riverton, Wyoming. She married Ron Peterson in 1976 and later divorced but had two wonderful sons Byron Peterson and Paul Peterson.
Pat had many talents from making beautiful birthday and wedding cakes. She loved playing cards. She was an accomplished accountant. She loved to cook for large crowds or family gatherings. She loved everything about the outdoors, hunting, fishing, camping, dancing and checking trap lines with friend Val Erickson. She lived in Star Valley/Afton area for years and four years ago moved back home after losing Val. She would drop anything to help her family. She loved her grandchildren so much and enjoyed every minute she had with them.
Pat is survived by a sister Polly Johnson (husband Wayne), brother Paul Boedeker and sons David, Ridge and Dale, sons Byron Peterson (fiancée Jane) and Hunter, Paul Peterson and (wife Margo), Bailey, Ashley and Boen, numerous cousins, and a special uncle Frank. She also leaves behind her beloved German Shepard Grizz and cat Casey. When she went through the heavenly gates, she was welcomed with loving arms by her mom and dad, Val and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. A Memorial Service will be held February 1, 2020 at the Headwaters in Dubois at 3 p.m. Main dish will be provided. Carry-ins appreciated.
