The following obituaries appeared in the November 15, 2017 edition of the Star Valley Independent.
Claude Leon Rydalch, 84, long-time resident of Idaho Falls, Idaho, passed away on Thursday, November 9, 2017. His funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 18th, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building located at 651 Gladstone Street, Idaho Falls, Idaho. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. and a luncheon will follow the funeral service. Burial at Teton-Newdale Cemetery. Claude was born in Grantsville, Utah, October 21, 1933. He graduated from Sugar-Salem High School and attended the University of Utah. Claude married Barbara Jeanniene Shields on May 9, 1956. In May of 2016, they held a 60th Wedding Anniversary celebration in Idaho Falls. Claude worked as a firefighter for the Idaho Falls Fire Department for twenty-five years. He was a driver for sixteen of those years, and for nearly five years, he was a paramedic. His selfless service is remembered by residents to this day. He also worked for the Coca-Cola Bottling Company and Monte’s Mobile Homes. Claude greatly enjoyed sports, especially basketball, football and softball. He also wrestled, and was happy to drive the Star Valley High School State Champion Wrestling team to their games, after he retired from the Fire Department. Claude was an active member of the LDS Church and served two missions; he was called to the Great Lakes Mission in 1953, for two years, and in 1999 he served with his sweetheart for one-and-a-half years in the Utah Salt Lake City Family History Mission, where they indexed Ellis Island records. Claude was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Mary (Robinson), his brother, Charles Rodney, his daughter, Mary Eliza, his sister-in-law, Dauna (Murland), his daughter-in-law, Melanie (first wife of son Mike), his great-grandchild, Rob Saad, Jr. and his sister Jolene (Ralph) Cluff. Claude is survived by his wife, Jeanniene, their children, Lee (Janis), Carey (Audrey), Robin (Dan) Whitworth, Mike (Darlene), Wendy (Allen) Jones, and Todd (Trisha), his siblings, Don (Doralee), Janice (Merle) Jeppesen, and Murland, twenty-one grandchildren and twenty-nine great-grandchildren.
Dawn Sarah Bort passed away on Monday, Oct. 30, in her home in Thayne after a long battle with cancer. Dawn was born in Millington, Tenn. on December 30, 1955. Dawn enjoyed a wide variety of crafts and loved to spoil her grandchildren. Dawn is preceded in death by her parents; James and Alva Bailey. She is survived by her husband Bill, and their two children Amy and James. A remembrance ceremony was held at the Schwab Funeral Chapel in Thayne on Friday, Nov. 3, 2017.
Eileen Wilkes Nyberg, loving mother, grandmother, sister and friend, passed away peacefully in the early morning hours on Monday, October 9th, 2017. Eileen was born October 2, 1956 in Afton Wyoming. She was the second child of eight to Lynn Wood Wilkes and Gayle Kennington Wilkes. Her childhood was spent in Afton, Wyoming, Centerville, Utah and Corvallis, Oregon. She married LaMar Jenkins November 11th, 1979 and was blessed with two sons, Dustin Lamar and Jesse Cole. She and LaMar were later divorced. She married Gregg Nyberg and they later divorced. Although she only had two biological children, Eileen was a mother figure to many. She was a cheerful person and always ready to make a new friend. She loved her nieces and nephews. She loved collecting antiques and vintage clothing. Her greatest joy in life was being grandma “LaLa” to Hailey, Analeise, Jackson and Alorah. Eileen is preceded in death by her father, mother, her brother Robert Wilkes, her sister Karen Caples and her oldest son Dustin Jenkins. She is survived by her companion of 16 years Craig Mikesell, her youngest son Jesse Jenkins (Brooke), siblings David Wilkes, Alison Fluckiger (Larry), Laurie Williams, Eric Wilkes, Cheryl Zahne (Marcus), several nieces and nephews, and her beloved grandchildren. A memorial service was held on Saturday October 14th, 2017 in Bountiful, Utah.
Dr. Rey Hutchinson McCombs, 87, passed away Tuesday, November 1, 2017 in St. George, Utah. He was born April 6, 1930, to Carlos Elmer McCombs and Leila Alice Hutchinson. He married Eva Louise Henderson December 10, 1948, in Salt Lake City, UT. Later sealed in the LDS Idaho Falls Temple. Later divorced. He married Laura Lee Crosby Matheson October 21, 1989, in Cedar City, UT. Later sealed in the LDS Salt Lake City Temple. Rey was born on a ranch in Grover, Star Valley Wyoming. By age four he was riding a horse. He graduated from Star Valley High School (1948). He served an LDS mission to the New England States Mission (1950-1952). He graduated from Utah State University (1959), later graduating from the University of Oregon Dental School (1963). Rey practiced dentistry 38 years in Merced, CA, retiring to St. George, UT. He and wife Laura Lee served in the LDS Temple Square Mission (2002-2004). Rey enjoyed driving on road trips, traveling internationally, motorcycling, snowmobiling, boating, trailer camping and was very patriotic. He is survived by his wife Laura Lee McCombs, of St. George, UT, and four of his six children: Marilyn Pettit (Scott), Maple Valley, WA; Dr. Kathleen McCombs, Salt Lake City, UT; Dr. Ronald H. McCombs (Robin), Puyallup, WA; Carol Nelson (Rick), Holladay, UT; sister, Marian Dilley, Chico, CA, 10 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. Proceeded in death by his parents and two daughters, Reva McCombs and Lisa McCombs Quilter; a grandson, Christian Rey Nelson; sister, Beth Clapp. Also survived by Laura Lee’s children: Teri Allan, Lehi, UT; Lynette Judd (Kelly), Paragonah, UT; Bret Matheson, Salt Lake City, UT; Kristen Bowen (Morgan), San Luis Obispo, CA; Sterling Matheson (Kristin), Millcreek, UT, 24 grandchildren and 47 great-grandchildren. Proceeded in death by son-in-law H. Jerry Allan and great-grandson Jason Douglas Judd. Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 11, 2017 at 2:00 pm at the Fort Pierce Chapel, 750 E. Fort Pierce Drive North, St. George, UT. Viewing prior to services from 12:00-1:30 pm. Family and friends may visit Friday, November 10, 2017 from 5:00-7:00 pm at the Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S. Bluff St., St. George, UT. Interment, Tonaquint Cemetery, St. George, UT.
Friends and family are invited to sign his online guestbook at www.spilsburymortuary.com.
Rose Taylor Wray was born December 2, 1920 in Fairview, Wyoming to Clarence Taylor and Viona Oletha Williamson. She was the oldest of six children. As a child she had many illnesses that could have taken her life, but she managed to bounce back. She had pneumonia, she accidentally drank lye, had a burst appendix, and a dislocated shoulder; all of this by 6 years of age. She loved her Grandparents’ farm and would walk with her brother for two miles (causing mischief along the way) to “help out,” They gathered eggs in the barn and crawled under the granary to find the eggs the hens had hidden. Their grandma would reward their work with a handful of raisins or a homemade cookie. After the work was done, Rose would curl her Grandma’s hair with a curling iron which was heated on the big iron stove or she would play cards with her uncles and the other farm workers. Rose loved riding horses and working with her dad and brother at sheep camps. She and her brother Merrill spent hours picking wool off dead sheep only to make a quarter for each bag of wool they gathered. She was in demand as a babysitter and made 10-25 cents an hour. Rose also had a job every day after school ironing men’s shirts. She starched, dampened, rolled-up, and ironed the shirts. She ironed 25 shirts for 75 cent. She was reared to be a hard worker. As a teenager, Rose lived with her extended family because her parents were often in Idaho at sheep camps. She was a good student. She received hand-me-downs from her aunts but also made her own clothes. As a freshman she played volleyball and baseball. As a sophomore Rose was busy with school dances and dating. It was at this time that she and Mack Wray started dating and became fond of each other. Rose graduated from Star Valley High School and went to California to secretarial school. After a time in California and Utah for school she returned to Star Valley where she reconnected with Mack. After dating for a short while, they decided to get married. She had a bridal shower, they pooled their money, and headed to Logan for school making a stop in Paris, Idaho along the way get married. To this union Pam, Linda, Jane, and Taylor were born. As a family they loved the outdoors, camping, fishing, and skiing. Rose was active in her community serving on the library board, VFW auxiliary, and women’s organizations. Mack and Rose joined 13 other families and built the original nine hole Valli Vu Golf Course. Several members of the family including grandkids became “golfers”. She was a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many callings. She specifically loved working with the youth and teaching relief society and gospel doctrine. When Rose was 38 she started taking classes and decided she loved English and teenagers. She was able to graduate within 3 1/2 years by taking correspondence, extension, and summer school classes. Her first contract was for teaching English and she soon became one of the favorite teachers lovingly known as Aunt Rose. She continued her education earning her Masters Degree. She was given a fellowship to study the “Bible As Literature” at Indiana University. Rose was so excited to share this curriculum with students at SVHS. During this time she was elected President of the Wyoming English Teacher’s Association. After retirement, Mack and Rose bought a home in Sunland Village in Mesa, Arizona. They loved their winters there. Mack passed away in 2002 and three years later Rose married Richard Teraberry. When Richard passed away Rose returned to Star Valley. There she was surrounded by people she loved. Rose passed away of natural causes November 9, 2017. She was preceded in death by her Mother and Father, brother Merrill Taylor, granddaughter Rebecca Ann, and sisters LaNe Allred, and Dora Mae Martindale. She is survived by her children Pam, Linda, Jane and Taylor, 16 grandchildren and 52 great grandchildren.
