Laverne Harker

LaVerne Elkington Harker was born in Tooele, Utah on April 3, 1917 to William and Elzie McLaws Elkington. When she was just a child, the family made the big move from Tooele to Idaho Falls, Idaho where her father had acquired a large dry farm in the hills east of Idaho Falls.  Here the family worked and grew grain and livestock.  During the summer months of her youth they lived in the hills at “The Ranch” and LaVerne enjoyed roaming the hills on horseback exploring the new country and tending livestock.  During the winter months they lived in Idaho Falls where she attended school, church, and activities with her friends and siblings.

LaVerne met her eternal sweetheart, Hallace Harker of Shelley at a dance at the old Wandamere Dance Hall near Idaho Falls.  Their relationship blossomed and they were married in the Salt Lake L.D.S. Temple on June 10, 1937.  Within a few years of their marriage they purchased the family farm at the base of the Butte, a mile east of the old Shelley Sugar Factory where they raised their family.

She had a passion and dedication for service in the church.  She enjoyed decorating birthday and wedding cakes, singing in the ward choir, studying the scriptures, and genealogy.  She submitted volumes of names for L.D.S. Temple ordinances.  In later years she learned to paint beautiful scenic oils, and did hours of service for her ward humanitarian efforts.

LaVerne is survived her by brother Fred Elkington of Idaho Falls, three of her five children:  Marie (Chuck) Thompson of Blackfoot, Harriet (Mike) Madden of White Salmon, Washington, and Jerri (Dee) Snarr of South Jordan, Utah, son-in-law  Roland Thompson of Shelley, and daughter-in-law Koelyn Blake, of Pleasant Grove, Utah, 52, Grandchildren,  176 Great-grandchildren, and 20 Great-Great-grandchildren . She leaves an extensive posterity, we figure around 250. And it all started with a twinkle and a grin when a handsome young man asked a charming young woman to dance.

Preceding of her in death were her husband and sweetheart, Hallace Werner Harker, son Marlo, daughter Sylvia Thompson, and 2 great-grandchildren; parents William and Elzie Elkington, brothers: Dean Elkington, Reed Elkington, sisters:  Alice Elkington Lee, Hazel Elkington Brucks, and JoAnn Elkington Pickett.

Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 30, 2012 at the Shelley South Stake Center (675 South Milton), in Shelley. The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 7:00 till 8:30 p.m. at Nalder Funeral Home (110 West Oak) in Shelley and Wednesday from 12:30p.m. till 1:40 p.m. at the Church.  Burial will be in the Shelley Hillcrest Cemetery.