The following obituaries appeared in the February 12, 2020 edition of the Star Valley Independent.
For more area obituaries, please visit Schwab Mortuary.
Fern Kennington Jensen quietly passed away in her sleep on February 4. 2020 at the age of 92 while at the home of her daughter in Hyde Park, Utah.
Fern was born on September 25, 1927, in Afton, Wyoming to William Henry and Luella Nield Kennington. She was the sixth of eight children.
Fern was raised and attended school in Afton, Wyoming. During high school, she met the “Bedford Boys,” marrying Rex Levon Jensen in the Idaho Falls Temple. They began their married life and became parents on the Fluckiger ranch in Bedford. A few years later they were able to build a house of their own on the ranch where they lived until Rex became ill. It was then he built a house for her and his mother in the town of Bedford and sold the family ranch. Through the years she found employment at the Star Valley Cheese Factory, Gephart’s general store in Afton, and then owned her own residential cleaning business.
Fern loved her family dearly. She made sure that each of her children, her grandchildren, and her great-grandchildren had a handwritten birthday card every year without fail letting them know how much she loved them. Her laugh was infectious and because of her kind and sincere nature, she was never lacking for friends. Friends remember her as the “fun one.” No one forgot Fern after spending any amount of time with her. A family friend recently shared that she used to pretend as a child that Fern was her grandma because she was so much cooler than her own grandmother.
Fern was young at heart and always active. Throughout her life, she sewed enough clothes and tied enough quilts to keep a small village warm. She enjoyed being on the farm, raising chickens, and homemaking. She was also known for her famous fudge which won first place in the county fair. She also made bread dough bears for her grandchildren and their friends when they would visit. She canned fruit and made beet pickles. She kept a garden and found joy in the simple things of life.
Fern was active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving a mission to the Salt Lake City Family History mission. She loved to go to the temple. Until her death, she was actively involved in family history with her daily indexing and extraction work. She was even featured in the Children’s friend magazine as the oldest primary teacher at the age of 90.
Fern always had a smile and was willing to help others in need. She truly exemplified charity and kindness for everyone she came in contact with.
She is preceded in death by all of her siblings: Neal Kennington, Maude Kennington Razenburger, Velda Kennington Reagan, Reba Kennington Miller, Wm.Hugh Kennington. Gayle Kennington Wilkes and JoAnn Kennington Jenkins.
Rex and Fern had six children: Randall L. Jensen married to Lana Dana Jensen, Bill K. Jensen and RoAnn Duke Jensen, Kristine Jensen Jones married to Kurt Alan Jones, Janmarie Jensen Smith married to Randall Eldon Smith, Nolan Rex Jensen married to Valerie Tolman Jensen, Joan Jensen Lancaster married to Art Lancaster.
She had 21 grandchildren and 41 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Her funeral will be held Saturday February 15. The viewing will be from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. and funeral services from 11 to noon in the Center street church: 65 East Center Street, Hyde Park, Utah. The burial will be that day in the Bedford Wyoming Cemetery at 3:30 p.m.
Garie H. Hillstead, 88, of Sonoma, California, passed away peacefully on February 7, 2020.
Garie is preceded in death by his wife, Marilyn Nield Hillstead, his parents, John Gray and Dora Mae Hillstead and his brothers Verdell and Ted Hillstead and his sister Gwen.
He will be greatly missed by his five children, Garie Lyn (Ken) Short, Michael (Vickie) Hillstead, Mark (Dawn) Hillstead, Janice (Scott) Magnusson, and Sheri (Kendall) Pead; fifteen grandchildren (Ken, Brienne, Brandon, Leslie, Melissa, Ciara, Sarah, Bradley, Ryan, Nicole, Jordan, Kira, Kelsie, Blake, and Carter); twenty-one great-grandchildren.
Garie was born in Star Valley, (Osmond) Wyoming and enjoyed growing up on a farm. He married his high school sweetheart, Marilyn Nield, on June 1, 1951. They later settled in the Sonoma, California area where he established a dental practice. He practiced dentistry for 36 years. He was a gentle dentist which was appreciated by his patients. Garie was an avid runner and enjoyed water-skiing with his family. After retiring, Garie taught himself to oil paint and many of his masterpieces are hanging in his families’ homes. He was an amazing husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He taught others through his humble example of integrity, hard work, and selflessness. Through his numerous years of church leadership, many lives were touched by his countless hours of service.
A service will be held to honor his life on Saturday, February 15, 2020 at 2 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 16280 La Grama Dr, Sonoma, California.
Maxine Eva Corson was born in Afton, Wyoming on May 16, 1950. She passed away at the hospital in Afton on February 3, 2020 at the age of 69. Maxine lived her entire life on Allred Lane in Afton, Wyoming.
Maxine attended Star Valley High School and spent most of her time pushing her good friend Karen Wray around in her wheelchair. After graduating from high school Maxine served a mission to California for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She also did some traveling with friends going to both Hawaii and New York. Maxine spent several years working for Caribou as a Key Punch Operator. Maxine attended college at Brigham Young University where she met and married Orlo Goodson in the Salt Lake City Utah Temple. Maxine worked for the Lincoln County School District. She started as a substitute teacher and retired as a reading aid.
Maxine spent her time raising six kids, and loving 11 grandchildren. Maxine was talented with her hands. In wider circles Maxine was known for the many hand woven rugs that she made on her loom and sold from her home and at craft fairs. Maxine made award winning crocheted baby dresses and enjoyed doing embroidery, embroidering a quilt for each of her children. Maxine spent many years in the 4-H program helping her children learn new life skills like sewing, cooking and more. In more intimate circles, “Grandma” was known for her delicious homemade jam, calling her posterity to sing Happy Birthday on each of their birthday’s and her presence at special events such as baptisms, children’s sporting events and other performances.
Maxine loved nature. One of her favorite places to go was Yellowstone National Park, especially the Norris Geyser Basin. Maxine always planted a large garden and tended several flower gardens. To relax Maxine enjoyed sitting behind her wood shed enjoying the sunshine, crocheting, tearing carpet rags, or reading a book, and when family was around sharing a bonfire and good food together. Sunday afternoons Maxine could be found playing a competitive game of cards around the kitchen table with some of her children.
Maxine is survived by her brothers: Eugene Corson, Rich (Susan) Corson, Larry (JoLynn) Corson; her sister Vickie Sargent; children: Edward Goodson, Benjamin (Elisha) Goodson, Katie (James) Resare, Dusty Goodson, Kristy Goodson and Karen Goodson and 11 grandchildren.
Maxine was preceded in death by her husband Orlo James Goodson; sister-in-law Kate Corson, brother-in-law Ken Sargent and her parents Glenn LeRoy and Ruby Lamoine Corson. Funeral Services were held on Friday, February 7, 2020 at 12 noon at the church house located at 165 E 5th Ave, in Afton Wyoming with a viewing prior from 10-11:45. Interment was at the Afton Cemetery.
Nelda Haderlie Oakeson (88) passed away at home in Farmington, Utah. She was the last living member of the John and Martha Haderlie family of Freedom.
She was born in Afton, spent her early years on the Haderlie Ranch up Tincup, then moved down to the Ranch on the Idaho side of the State Line Road which they also owned. She was always proud of her Star Valley roots and the work ethic she developed here.
Nelda is preceded in death by her siblings Conn Haderlie, Wilma Jenkins, Morris Haderlie, Vella Hansen, her husband, Willard Oakeson, six children: Shirley (Craig) Smart, Carol (Terry) Hess, Marie (Brian) Harris, Ralph (FaNae) Oakeson, Elaine (Kurt) Hills and Donna (Marc) Semadeni.
