Rest in Peace, Brother Al Welch

ALFRED LEE WELCH left his earthly existence in the arms of his sweetheart on December 19, 2023, in St. George, UT. He was born – the youngest of two sons - on Easter Sunday 1938 in Caldwell, ID, to James Afton and Tersa Lemmon Welch.

Alfred attended 1st and 2nd grade in Parma, ID, but in 1946, the family moved to Homedale, ID, where he continued his education, graduating from Homedale High School in 1956.

In the fall of 1957, Al married Marcella (Marcie) Clark also of Caldwell. From their marriage came four much-loved children, Janie Lee, Tonja Sue, Ronald Mark, and Danny Allen. Al and Marcie subsequently divorced. Al later married Maloah (“Mo”) Lee Glover, to whom he was sealed in the Idaho Falls Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1979. Mo brought 3 children to the marriage: Trenton David, Trevor David, and Selinda Marie Mullins Chesak Ellis who passed away in November of 1996 in a hunting accident. Following Mo’s death of heart failure in 2004, Al married her widowed sister Bonita (“Bonnie”) Glover Pendleton who subsequently passed away from cancer in 2013. Al later married Julia Gardner Welch with whom he lived until the time of his passing.

From the time he was young, his father owned several service stations in addition to a car dealership. Al’s first car was a Subaru Golden Hawk which he loved.

Al had a fascinating work life. As a youth, besides working for his father, he began working for a grocery store, and in the summer of 1955, he joined the Idaho National Guard. Following high school graduation, he continued in the Air National Guard full-time in Nevada and Idaho for nearly 12 years. He attained the rank of E6 Tech Sargent as a Personnel Specialist in the 124th Fighter Squadron (“First Class or Not at All.”) After his employment in the Air National Guard, he worked mostly in sales and management positions Associated Food Stores as a sundry salesman covering Southern Idaho.

He also graduated from Boise State University, majoring in computer science. He was early in the IT game and never really used his college education although he wrote a program for parts inventorying which he sold.

Among various other employments, he designed and developed a business in parts catalogs for large and small entities, became a pharmacy technician, built feed managers, owned his own small trucking company, managed a boat marina, managed a mobile home park, worked for the BLM securing water outposts. He also worked for Kenworth. He was never one to sit still, often working more than one job at a time. He was a problem solver, and his motto was to “look outside the box.” He also loved telling stories and had a great sense of humor.

In 1978 Al became a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in numerous callings/positions throughout his life and held a deep and abiding testimony of Jesus Christ. He truly loved the Lord and was so grateful for his blessings.
Al loved his country. He was a consummate gentleman and was loved by so many in both his business and his personal life.

 

He is survived by his sweetheart, Julie Gardner Welch, his brother Ronald (Red) Afton and Judy Welch, and children Janie Lee Wildon, Tonja Sue Graham, Ronald Mark Little, Danny Allen Little, Trenton David, Trevor David, grandchildren Tyson and Mallory Wilden, Patsy and Scott Fowler, and bonus step-children Derren and Rebecca Klein and Dwain and Alicia Klein, as well as many wonderful grand and great-grandchildren. He loved them all unfailingly.

A celebration of Al’s life will be planned in the spring of 2024 to be held in Idaho where many of his relatives reside.

Til We Meet Again, Brother Ralph Dean Tucker

Ralph Dean Tucker received his Christmas wish on December 19, 2023 when he was reunited for the rest of eternity with his loving wife Elaine.  Ralph died at age 95 at the Birch Creek Assisted Living Center in Smithfield, UT. 

Ralph was born at home on August 22, 1928, in Soda Springs, ID, the fifth and last child of Charles and Della (Sanderson) Tucker. Soda Springs was his home until 5^th grade when the family moved to Pocatello, where Ralph learned invaluable lessons working in his father’s sheep business during the summer months, herding sheep and cooking for the hired hands. 

Ralph attended Pocatello High School from 1942 to 1946, a proud member of the varsity basketball team all four years of high school.  He continued his education at Idaho State University graduating with a BA in business.  At college he spotted a beautiful girl riding on the swan float in the homecoming parade. He persuaded a friend to arrange a blind date.  The rest is history.  Ralph married the love of his life, Elaine Hale, on December 23, 1950.  The two spent 71 years together, raised 2 sons Ralph Lynn and Tracy Dean, and a daughter Terri Della, and enjoyed time spent with their six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Ralph enlisted in the US Navy August of 1950 during the Korean war. In 1951 he became a mustang, an enlisted man who becomes a commissioned officer. He awoke one day a seaman apprentice and went to sleep that night a commissioned officer.

 After his years in the service, Ralph began work as a salesman for Bannock steel, which later became Gate City Steel. This began a 30-year career. He retired in 1987 as senior vice president.  Retirement didn’t last long.  He returned to work for 3 additional years with Geneva Steel before retiring with Elaine to St. George, UT, where they enjoyed more thirty years together. They were active community members and made many dear friends.  Together they served five years as ordinance workers in the St. George LDS temple, and Ralph also enjoyed 15 years volunteering at the hospital in St. George. 

 Ralph was a devoted husband, a loving father, and a loyal friend.  He touched many lives with his kindness, wisdom, and humor.  He said in the end it didn’t matter where he went to school, what board he sat on, or what club he was elected to serve as president. What mattered was what he did to make the world a better place. He always said: “Keep your sense of humor and find something to be grateful for”.  He leaves a legacy of a life well lived. He will be dearly missed.

The family requests in lieu of flowers, donations be made to a charity of your choice.

Rest in Peace, Dear Sister Carol Stephen

Carol Jacobson Stephen was the youngest of four children born into the family of Alma Evan and Emma Bateman Jacobson in Springville, UT and passed into eternity on December 15, 2023, in St. George, UT just three weeks from her 92^nd birthday. Carol loved growing up in Springville where she graduated from Springville High School. She played the baritone horn in the school orchestra and was a drum majorette in the marching band.

She attended Brigham Young University where she met Jay Clair Colver. They were married on June 3, 1953 and had two boys and a girl but divorced in 1982.  

Carol met Roy Stephen in the summer of 1982.  They dated and were married on December 11, 1982, in the Oakland Temple and lived in Moraga, California. Carol adored Roy and is looking forward to spending eternity with him.

She was blessed to have many church callings. She was a Stake and Ward Relief Society President, Young Women's President, and Primary President. She and her husband Roy served in the Vietnamese Branch in Oakland, California for several years.

After retiring Carol and Roy were called to serve a full-time mission in Armenia in 1991. They were the first missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to serve in this beautiful Asian country. After their mission they returned on three other occasions and lived in Armenia a total of about four years while maintaining their home in St. George.

Carol loved her children and especially her 25 grandchildren and 36 great-grandchildren. She is survived by her husband, Roy Stephen of St. George, Utah; her children: Kevin (Shannon) Colver, Elk Ridge, UT; Richard (Beverly) Colver, Edmond, Oklahoma; and Carie (Pete) Squires, Kennewick, Washington; her stepchildren: Tory (Elizabeth) Stephen, Christiansburg, VA; Mari (Howard) Duncan, Cabot, AR; and Tad (Heather) Stephen, Gilbert, AZ.

A visitation was held on Wednesday, December 20, 2023, at Metcalf Mortuary in St. George with funeral services on Friday, December 22, 2023, at Wheeler Mortuary in Springville. Interment will be at Evergreen Cemetery in Springville.

Relief Society celebrates Christmas

Relief Society sisters enjoyed an evening with “Angels Among Us” on Thursday, December 14, including a delicious dinner and a beautiful holiday program. Organized by Lesa Day, sisters were served by priesthood members. Lindsay Ruiz, accompanied by Kate Barclay, performed a touching solo. A readers’ theater reminded us of the impact of angels who have touched our lives. Each sister was gifted hand-dipped chocolates made by our own Kezia Brown and her mother. The evening was capped off with a touching rendition by the YM/YW Special Needs group singing “In This Very Room.” Those angels most certainly touched many hearts.

Thanks to all who came out on a chilly pre-Christmas evening … and to those who planned, decorated, prepared a meal of chicken pot pie, veggie sides, Grinch fruit kabobs, chocolate and white chocolate mousse cake and homemade chocolates.  Thanks to the committee including Lesa Day, Jill Jones, Patty Hymas, Carrie Cauley, Anika Stephens, Kaylynn Gorder, Jessica Crockett, Kezia Brown and to Rebecca Larsen and Jill Fraser who helped set up.  Special thanks to members of the elders quorum who set up tables and chairs and served dinner and dessert.

 

It was a beautiful Christmas holiday evening.

Bloomington 7th celebrates Christmas in the Desert

More than 300 friends and neighbors both in – and outside – the boundaries of the B7 Ward gathered again this year at the Bloomington Stake Center (our ward no longer fits around long tables in our cultural hall) on Monday, December 4, 2023.  Décor and Mexican food celebrated a Desert Christmas food while the high school age Sunday School class and a Primary bell choir along with their leaders reminded us of the Savior’s birth in a stable in Bethlehem.

Thanks to event chair Jill Fraser and her committee including Steve and Meg, Francie and Randy Cogburn, Jan’L and David Sappington, Sarah Hendershot, Shar and Randy Simkins, Roy Adams, Debb Johnson, Primary President Marla Huntsman and the Primary children, our high school age Sunday School class,  Bishop Michael Bair, Linda Sappington and Courtney Orton, all who worked hard to provide those in attendance with a memorable evening of fun, friends and food while remembering the “reason for the season.”