Verla (Woodbury) Kofoed

Verla Woodbury Kofoed

Daddy’s Sweetheart—Faithful to the End
Oct. 28, 1920 – January 24, 2018

Verla Woodbury Kofoed, 97, passed away peacefully of natural causes on Wednesday, January 24, 2018 at the Royal Villa Care Center in Payette, Idaho. Services will be held February 3, 2018 at 10:00 A.M. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) chapel in Fruitland, Idaho at 325 North Pennsylvania Avenue. There will be a viewing on Friday, February 2 from 7:00 - 9:00 P.M. at the Ontario Haren-Wood Funeral Chapel at 2543 SW 4th Avenue, Ontario, Oregon and again at 9:15 - 9:45 A.M. at the Fruitland LDS chapel.  Vault Internment will follow at the Park View Cemetery in New Plymouth, Idaho.

Verla was born on Oct. 28, 1920 in Burley, Idaho to Francis Nelson Woodbury and Edith Talbot Woodbury. Her family moved several times and ultimately moved to Lava Hot Springs, Idaho in hopes that the hot springs there would help her mother, Edith, who had rheumatoid arthritis. While going to high school in Lava, she loved music and played in the band in addition to her studies. Here she met the love of her life, V. Glen Kofoed. They were married on October 28th, 1937 in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple.

 

Glen and Verla lived in Lava for 7 years where he was employed by the Union Pacific Railroad. While in Lava, Verla gave birth to three children, Leola Rae, Glenn LaMarr, and Marianne. In 1944 they moved with their family to Wilder, Idaho where he worked for an orchardist. Here Karla Jean was born.

 

Following their dream, they purchased a farm and home in New Plymouth in December of 1950. In New Plymouth, five more children were added to their family: Treva Louise, Kay James, Connie Laree, Terrel Jay and Chis Alan.

 

Verla worked hard as a mother to provide a clean and beautiful home for her children. She always had healthy meals on the table, kept a garden, canned produce, and used her skills as a seamstress to keep her children well clothed. She also made beautiful quilts for her children and grandchildren. She loved being a mother.

 

In 1979 when Glen retired from raising Black Angus cattle and as a monorail operator for Boise Cascade Saw Mill in Emmett, Idaho, they moved to Fruitland where she resided before moving to Royal Villa in Payette where she resided until the time of her death.  

She was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and held many positions of responsibility and leadership throughout her life, including Relief Society president. She will always be remembered for her willingness to serve shown by her donations to L.D.S. Humanitarian services of baby quilts and crocheted winter scarves. 

 

Verla is survived by Leola (Max) Gardner, Fruitland Idaho, Marianne (Lary) Walker, Weiser, Idaho; Karla (Steve) Brandau, Atlanta, Georgia; Treva (Steve) Hahn, McCall, Idaho; Kay Kofoed (Pam), New Plymouth, Idaho; Connie (Bob) Umphrey, Weiser, Idaho; Terrel (Lisa) Kofoed, American Fork, Utah; Chris (Fionnuala) Kofoed, Eagle Mountain, Utah; and daughter-in-law, Daleen, who is the wife of her deceased son, Glenn LaMarr Kofoed.

 

She is also survived by 52 grandchildren, 205 great-grandchildren and 37 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, V. Glen Kofoed, by her son, Glenn LaMarr Kofoed and 2 granddaughters, Kolette Kofoed and Laree Umphrey.

Loving Thoughts About Mom and Grandmother

 

As Mom approached her 90th birthday she said: "I never dreamed I'd live to be 90 years old. My great grandmother, Rose Ann Talbot who emigrated from England, lived to be 97. So I guess I still have some years to enjoy my life, friend, children, and hobbies."

 

Yes, she lived to be 97 and we believe she inherited her still brown full head of hair at 97 from her great-grandamother Talbot.

 

 

Leola Kofoed Gardner and Max Gardner

 

THE PARABLE OF THE PIANO

 

 

It was about 1953 and Leola was trying to learn a solo on the piano. The old upright piano had several important keys that were sticking and she was very frustrated.   One day a traveling salesman from Dunkley Music came by with a piano in his truck! He asked mom and dad if they needed a new piano. They certainly did, but there was a little problem.  They didn't have the money. Dad and mom never went into debt for anything except the farm. They did make a yearly farm payment which they were ready to do.

 

Dad called the bank and asked if they could make monthly farm payments that year instead of the yearly one. The bank ok'd it and that left mom and dad enough money to buy the piano.

 

There was a beautiful picture that always hung over that piano and it set a tone of peace and love of   music in the home. Our home was   filled with wonderful   music from that piano.  Dad wore a mismatched suit that year and I'm sure mom made many sacrifices as well. They wanted their children to· have a chance to learn music. You see, they both grew up during the depression and were unable to do a lot of things. They wanted more for their children.

 

 

That one sacrifice has blessed the lives of many. We will never know how many because it is a gift that keeps on giving. Thank you mom and dad for the great sacrifices that you made for us and all the many gifts you have given us.

 

Brenda Gardner Walker:

 

I loved going and visiting Grandma, she always was so excited to share with me all the sewing and crocheting projects that she has completed or had in progress. I cherish every quilt and scarf that she made and gave to my family and myself.  

 

Grandma has a love for sewing and service.  A great combination for all the hundreds of humanitarian quilts and scarves she has made. I want to be like Grandma. First I want to make all my kids and grandkids quilts, so that even 20 years after my grandkids have graduated from High School, their favorite thing to cuddle up in and remind them of growing up and home is Grandma's quilt.  Second I want to so willing give my time and talents to help others.  Thank you Grandma for setting such a wonderful example for me.   

 

 

Lamarr Kofoed and Daleen Walker Kofoed

 

Karvel Kofoed:

 

To Grandma Kofoed:  I admire your never ending faith and endurance.  You have been an example of "endure to the end".  As long as I can remember, you have has always been 100% committed to your family, the gospel, the prophets, and the Savior.  I have such fond memories of going to your home, having you greet me with a smile, and then start asking me questions about my life, plans, etc. laughing, smiling, and taking it all in with great pleasure.  Those visits always included food of some sort - from cookies and milk to a full blown meal. 

 

I usually left your home with some sort of something - maybe a hand-made gift, maybe vitamins, maybe something for my parents or siblings, etc. What an amazing lady and grandma you were!! I love you.  Karvel

 

Doreen Kofoed Wheeler:

 

When I think of Grandma Kofoed, I think of a gentle woman with the sweetest smile and the voice of an angel.  I don't think I have ever heard grandma raise her voice or speak unkind words. She is always so pleasant and kind. Grandma taught me the value of hard work. She did not sit idly by and let time waste away, but instead she was constantly engaged in a good cause and we grandchildren were the beneficiaries many times.  She made us quilts, baby blankets, scarves and numerous other things that we love and cherish. 

 

I remember loving to go to Grandma Kofoed's house when I was growing up.  She would always give us a big hug and she usually had a cookie or a treat and some produce from the garden for us. Even then, she would always have a neat project going.  I have always admired Grandma so much.  I admire her for being willing to have a large family.  I admire her for the way she has lived the gospel and served others.  I especially admire her for her sweet, soft, kind and loving disposition.  She is a wonderful example of a beautifully refined daughter of God.  I love her so much and thank her for my heritage and for the legacy of love that she has given me. 

 

Lane Kofoed:

 

Grandma Kofoed is Selfless, Gentle, Kind and Hard Working.  When I was young, we would go to Grandma Kofoed’s house to help her pick raspberries or harvest vegetables from her garden. She has always been kind and soft spoken to us grandkids. She kept a spotless home and she had the most amazing gardens with long rows of raspberries, fruit trees and many other varieties of fruits and vegetables throughout her garden. Everything was neat and tidy and had been kept that way through a lot of hard work. 

 

Grandma was so kind and gentle with us, even when we ate half of what we picked.  Grandma has always been selfless like my Dad, always looking out for what the others need…always thoughtful and always taking care of us.  Grandma would make us lunch and have a cool drink and treat us royally every time we went over.  We loved to go visit Grandma Kofoed when I was a child and feel the peaceful feelings of her home and gardens. Even now, Grandma has an ice cream treat each time we come for a visit and we love to go to her home and look at all the pictures and feel the peaceful, gentle, selfless spirit from our Grandma and Great Grandma.

 

My son Sam loved Grandma so much that when he won a bear at the fair, he insisted on giving to it Grandma. It sat by her chair before she moved into Royal Villa and was always in her room until she passed.

 

Kelli Kofoed Medaris:

 

One time when Grandma went with us to my dad's grave, she sang primary songs with my kids and us most of the way.  I think she knows all of the primary songs!  It was such a sweet experience and she has such a sweet smile and sweet heart.
 
My 9 year old daughter, Lindsay, said:  "She is always willing and happy and loving!  She made scarfs for ALL of us and she makes blankets, and she makes scrubby things for the dishes!  Last time we went she came out to the park with us!"
 
My 7 year old son, Tyler, said:  "She is always nice to us!  And she always has a treat for us!"
 
My 5 year old daughter, Alli, loves to sit on her lap and get kisses from Great-grandma.  She loves to go visit her.
 
We Love Grandma Kofoed! 

 

 

Marianne Kofoed Walker and Lary Walker

 

Mom’s bread was famous. I don’t remember eating the bread but I do remember when I was a teenager and we had someplace to go but the bread in the oven was not done. Mom was distressed about the bread so she asked the man who was at our house doing perfa-taping to take it out of the oven at the appointed time. I remember I was embarrassed, but when we got home, he was no longer there, the bread was perfectly baked perfectly and the top of the bread had been generously buttered.

 

I have continued her bread making tradition. I have made a lot of bread! I have given away a lot of bread. The people we gave it to on our mission loved it.

 

Mom and Dad sacrificed a lot to see that we had musical training and I know the musical training gave me the confidence I needed as a teenager and the help I needed to become who I am today.

 

When I was a junior I sang at a music festival in Mountain Home. Karla was my accompanist. On that beautiful day in April, Karla and I were performing and working to attain the highest score possible which Mom gave birth to Terrel in Emmett. We were so excited to have a new brother.

 

Mom always taught us to be frugal. It is as if she stood in Brigham Young’s presence when he said that a woman can throw out the back door with a teaspoon more than what a man can bring in the front door with a wheel barrel. She was determined not to be one of those women. She shopped garage sales and always looked for sales before paying full price.

 

We bought the pageant dress on sale and it looked beautiful for two different pageants. Then Mom transformed it into my wedding dress. She handmade roses out of white taffeta, drew them up in scallops around the bottom of the skirt. The she put long sleeves in it and filled the neckline so it zipped all the way up the back, making it ready to wear in the temple. I was so inspired by her hard work that I made my going-away suite.  

 

Mom and Dad didn’t feel like they could go on a mission but they worked tirelessly in the temple. For 10 years they drove the freeway twice a week from Fruitland to Boise, often at night when it was dangerous, especially at their ages. They served as Shift Coordinators which is a tedious task, even with a computer. They did not have computers and they hand to hand write the schedule for the workers. This is a monumental task even with a computer because people have to be put in a different place every 30 minutes to an hour.

 

When I had surgery for a torn rotator cuff, I couldn’t let my arm down for six weeks. My came to help me with the kids. She said she really wanted to help because she couldn’t help when I was having Lori and Lara because she had Chris, who is the same age as Lara.  

 

I enjoyed being a mother, just like Mom did. I know that angels have taken over when I couldn’t do it all and mother was one of those angels.

 

Kira Walker Lambert:

 

I will never forget visiting Grandma’s house when I was little she always had fruit roll ups, vitamins and hugs!

 

I will never forget going to Grandma’s house as a young mother and receiving the most beautiful hand crocheted, soft, white blessing blanket. All six of my children have been snuggled in that blanket as they were given a name and a blessing.

 

I will never forget going to Grandma’s house with my husband and kids and seeing boxes of scarves ready to send to others and my kids getting to pick a favorite to take home! Grandma would always show the kids where the toys were hidden and offer them popsicles or some other treat. I’m so grateful that my older children will have these memories of her love and generosity.

 

 

Kirsten Walker Burningham:

 

Although my memories are the same as many of the other grandchildren of Verla Kofoed, they are my very own and that is what makes that so special to me.  Grandma's home was always full of welcome and tasty treats.  In my younger years, it was the fruit leather I saw her so carefully roll and place in a jar -- reserved for just such days as when the grandchildren would come and run free through her house, giggling down the stairs and in need of fuel for more laps up and down and all over.  I loved that fruit leather and the way she made me feel as she so lovingly answered my questions on how she made such a delectable and unique treat.  

 

Later in my life, it was the way that she spread that same blanket of love, comfort and welcome to my husband and children.  We always tried to stop by when we could and no matter how unannounced our visit was, we could always count on a frozen treat and toys to entertain the kids while we chatted with Grandma.  The sight and sound of her laughing and rocking gently in her chair, with the children unwrapping their popsicles, is how I will remember her forever.  

 

Grandma was always very neat, organized and thoughtful.  She would take us into her room full of quilted and croqueted creations stacked neatly in piles with each child, grandchild and great grandchild remembered and accounted for by a scarf and a blanket.  She made sure we all got one, right down to the babes in arms.  Not only was there something hand-crafted for each descendant but I still remember looking around at all the photos she kept and displayed of her posterity.  Her arms spread wide pulling us all in for a gigantic hug through those photos frames.  I loved feeling and being a part of that big embrace.  She remembered and loved each and every one of us.

 

Another hallmark of Grandma was her love for Grandpa.  It seemed to me that she adored her "Glen" and stories of their youthful marriage and challenging but fulfilling life together always mesmerized and inspired me in my own relationships.  

 

Right now, living with Lary and Marianne, we eat at her table each day.  The green chairs remind me of seeing her sitting in one, pulled up close to a scrabble board.  She used to say she played that to keep her mind sharp.  Yet another of the many ways I would love to emulate her in my own life.  She just never quit striving, improving and living.  

 

Our last few times visiting Grandma are marked with a bit more sorrow.  We could tell she was in pain, but again, she welcomed us with love and gratitude.  The Sunday before she passed away, we came and sang the song our family had performed in church that day, "I Feel my Savior's Love."  I felt the love of the Savior very clearly in that moment.  It was only fitting that our last time with her would be filled with that musical reminder of how much she brought the love of the Savior into my own life.  

 

In the end, words -- and not even memories -- can do justice to the joy of just being with Grandma.  We love her and can't wait to be reunited in her embrace.  And no doubt, she will have a treat to share when we come!

 

Kirsten, Steve, Ben (9), Brooklyn(7), Ezra(5) and Eli (20 mo.)

 

 

Karla Kofoed Brandau and Steve Brandau

 

Mom would spend every summer making us beautiful clothes to wear for school. I always felt beautiful in the dresses she made for me. I remember one particular red-patterned dress that I LOVED and I remember running on the playground and having it split in the back from the waist line up about 3 inches. I was devastated that I couldn’t wear my favorite dress any more. But Grandma Woodbury helped solve the hurt. She took scraps left from the dress and made the scraps into a block in the flower garden quilt she made for me. When I look at it, I can still feel myself running across the playground as a second grader.

 

When I was plunking out tunes out on the piano, Mom would be in the kitchen fixing supper and she would say, “Oh, Karla. Play that again. I love to hear you play.” This inspired me to keep practicing. When I was studying and couldn’t spell a word, I would ask Mom and she always knew.

 

When a department store in Emmett went out of business, Mom went to cash in on the deals and steals. She came home with about $200.00 worth of cloth – taffeta, silk-like cloth. For once, it was Dad that was shocked and a little upset – $200.00 for cloth? But what a wise purchase. For years we sisters used this cloth to make beautiful dresses to wear to the Gold and Green Balls and school dances. I even made my wedding dress from Mom’s purchase.

 

At the old farm house, Mom was very proud of her white ceilings. She would get particularly irritated about fly specs on the ceiling and was very unhappy when Dad squashed a fly up there. She showed him how to tap it gently and then finish it off on the floor. Later that day Dad called out, “Oh, Verla, I found a fly. I know it’s yours because it has a broken wing and a broken leg.”

 

Mom related to me that while they were living in Homedale (I can’t remember if it was before I was born or after I was born) but she was so sick that Dad had to carry her into the doctor’s office. As I remember she was totally Iron deficient. The doctor gave her Iron shots and helped her get back on her feet. I believe this started Mom’s obsession with health. She never wanted to be in that condition again. As I have struggles with health issues, I think of Mom and her example of good eating and health consciousness. Every once in a while I crave whole wheat cereal.

 

When Mom and Dad met and fell in love, they were beautiful young people. You cannot deny that in their early pictures, Mom looks like a Hollywood star and Dad had all this amazing black curly hair which gene was certainly NOT passed on to any of us kids.  What has always amazed me is that two wonderful young people, children of widows who were on county welfare, met, fell in love, and made  not only a wonderful home for 9 children, but were financially successful and had a comfortable retirement. This is a miracle that can only happen in America.

 

Daddy’s family was on welfare because his father died from injuries in an accident when Dad was nine years old leaving 10 kids for his mother, Mary Jane Bell, to raise. Mom was on welfare because her mother could not work with her arthritis and her father left them. This is an amazing story of faith, righteous living, prudent living, and hard work.

 

Susan Brandau Hawkins:

 

My family loves the scarves Grandma made for us. Mine keeps me warm when I walk, at ballgames, and anywhere else I think it will be cold.

 

Rune chose a bright yellow scarf and loved it so much he put it on the small Christmas tree in his bedroom. It looked so cheerful all wound around the entire tree.

 

When I visited her, I was always impressed with all the pictures of kids and grandkids she displayed. It showed me how important family was to her. It was neat.

 

Kenneth Brandau:  

 

Kenneth’s favorite memory of Grandma Kofoed is her Frito plate. This was always a favorite.  

 

 

Treva Kofoed Hahn and Steve Hahn

 

I loved coming home from school to fresh baked bread or hot cinnamon rolls. She always encouraged me on my music and would sing and/or direct as I practiced until I got it right. She even LET me practice the violin outside! Later as a mom I understood why. 

 

She taught me so many things it is hard to put it in words. One of the most outstanding memories I have is how she taught me timing in music. I was trying to play something and as you may know, timing isn't one of my talents.  I can still hear her singing the song and beating the time with her hand to help me. At the time I didn’t appreciate it too much but now I am really grateful. I figure that I was really driving her crazy with my bad timing and she couldn't take it any longer!!! Now as I teach and play music I always remember that example.

 

It was really hard when daddy died, but she managed to fill time with many busy things. I admire so much her quilts and the way she keeps herself busy. She also played games to keep her mind sharp and it is working.  She figured out how to play scrabble by herself and has made up different ways to play it.  

 

At a recent bridal shower for Candice (Kay's daughter) she beat all of us in a word unscramble game.  I thought that was really unique. She was the eldest attendee and put the rest of us to shame. 

 

I loved how she took care of her mom who was crippled. I remember her driving me to an audition for college in a real bad snow storm. 

 

Her motto was "if it is worth doing, it is worth doing well."

 

Thanks Mom, you are the greatest. Treva

 

 

Kay Kofoed and Pam Cagle Kofoed

 

 

Mom has been a support to me in many stages of my life.

 

Troy Kofoed:

 

I remember once when I was staying with Grandma and Grandpa, Grandpa went out to sweep down the cobwebs from around the house. Grandma came running out of the house and asked, “Are you using my new broom?” It was evident he was. She grabbed the broom, swatted him on the backside and took it back in the house. Grandpa smiled the mischievous smile we all loved.

 

 

Connie Kofoed Umphrey and Bob Umphrey

 

It will always be a cherished memory of serving Mom during the last year of her life as she served other people. She would always say, “Thank you for helping me.” I told her, “You took care of me for 18 years and were a great mom so I can take care of you now.”  

 

Even though she missed her home, she loved the food at Royal Villa and often mentioned how much she loved room Leola picked out. It was a great room because she could look out the window and see the beautiful houses and the flag at the end of the street. Of course, I had to keep the window spotless – no specks or dirt allowed on Mom’s window.

 

I observed that she was so gracious, especially to the girl that showered her. She would say, “Thank you so much for your kind care.” She always thanked the aids and hospice nurse that came to help her and gained the reputation of the nicest person in the facility.

 

One aid looked at her family picture and said in amazement, “You had nine children?” Mom said, “Yes.” After the aid left, Mom said, “I loved being a mother and raising my family. I hope that is the way they remember it.”
 

We always kept Mom’s hair trimmed and permed so it would look nice during the week. Other residents did have this kind of care. As we were packing Mom’s things out of the room, one man sitting in his wheel chair watching said, “She was the nicest person in here and she will really be missed. Oh, your mom always looked so nice. She is beautiful.” We laughed at that.

 

Mom served the Lord with all of her heart and to her fullest. She had a great amount of faith in God and in priesthood blessings because she had experienced how priesthood blessing had healed her and blessed her during the many years of her life. Her extreme faith in priesthood blessings may have started with the birth of Leola. Leola was breech and the doctor had given up when she received a priesthood blessing. Leola then turned and was delivered safely.

 

It was my honor and privilege to give her a hug as she took her last breath on this earth.

 

 

Terrel Kofoed and Lisa Arrington Kofoed

 

I loved the cracked wheat cereal that Mom would make, with Neo-Life Vanilla Protein mixed in; what a great breakfast! And then there were those whole wheat pancakes with pear sauce on top which became a weekend treat. Yum!

 

I don’t even remember what the game was called, but there was a point when everyone would grab a spoon off the middle of the table, and the one left without a spoon would have to get on the table and rock back and forth on their hands and knees heehawing like a donkey. I’ll never forget that night, as a little kid, I couldn’t believe it when I saw Mom be the donkey.  I only remember her doing it once, but I just wasn’t used to seeing her loosening up like that. Wow, what a memory!

 

In addition to being an incredible homemaker, Mom was not afraid to roll up her sleeves and help with farm chores. One of my fondest memories of Mom is when she would go out with the family to harvest the hay. I clearly remember her out with the family stacking hay on the wagon as it was bucked. That just leaves a Norman Rockwell postcard type of picture in my mind of an old-fashioned farm family working together.

 

Cassia Beckman:

Grandma always had something for visiting children.  She kept games and papers for coloring in a cupboard near the table.  And for younger children, she kept a toy box.  I think I remember playing with some of those toys, I remember younger siblings playing with them, and it was so fun to them have my own children get to play with those toys and the toy box, as well.  Having the toys just sent a message that the children were welcome, and I loved that. 

As a child, I loved Grandma's fruit leather.  It was always a special treat whenever we visited.  I also loved looking at the pictures she collected - the individuals of her children, the special photo albums of each, and then the many, many pictures of families, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and so on.  I loved seeing my own picture among the rest, and feeling remembered and loved.

One year, when I was an older child or a young teenager, I was really interested in the cloth rugs she made.  I thought it was amazing that she had actually made them!  I wished I knew how to do that.  Grandma took the time to teach me.  My "rug" can't lay flat and is only about a foot wide, but it makes me happy to think of it and remember Grandma took that time to teach me.

To me, it seemed Grandma was always *doing* something.  She was working on a blanket, or a scarf, or a hot pad.  I cherish the ones I have - the big blanket she patched together when I was young, the smaller tied blankets many of my children were given, the white crocheted baby blanket, the scarves I have from when I was young and the ones she gave my children when we visited one year.  And the hot pads she made are my favorite hot pads.  :)

Bryan and I were able to stay with Grandma and Grandpa when our oldest was a baby.  We will always remember the sweet spirit in the room as they showed us old pictures and talked about their own memories and family members.  Their faith and their love of each other and their family was so evident.  Bryan and I hoped (and still hope!) we can be like them.

When I last visited Grandma, I remember her as a caring hostess.  She was slowing down a bit, but she wanted to make sure we all had enough food, and that it was food we enjoyed.  :)  I remember she made a delicious cheese and rice casserole that I just had to get the recipe for.  We also made monster cookies together - an enormous recipe that starts with a dozen eggs, ends with 10 of cups oats, and has you scoop the dough onto the pan with an ice cream scoop.  :)  They were huge cookies!  She made sure we took a few "for the road" when we left to go home. 

The first thing that comes to my mind when I think of what I've learned from Grandma is the importance of service and work. As long as I can remember, Grandma has always kept herself busy. As a child I remember she always dried fruit and made fruit leather for the grandchildren. She may have eaten it herself, but I never remember her doing so. I just remember how excited I was to eat that fruit leather, knowing it was special because Grandma made it. I also remember her cooking - she loved to make nice meals for us. I think this was true for every meal, but I especially remember waking up to find breakfast ready, and always so good.  :) 

I've also learned about the importance of family from watching Grandma. With her bookcases and hanging shelves and now even ceiling "shelf" full of pictures of her posterity, there is no doubt that she loves and cares for all of her posterity.  Seeing all those pictures makes me think about how important it is for me to pay attention to how I raise my own children, because some day they will be the parents/grandparents and will be raising my grandchildren.  :) It really makes the "little things" taken on more importance when I have that bigger perspective. 

 

On the other side, I've also learned about family history from Grandma. Years ago, when Jonathan was just a baby, Bryan and I were able to visit Grandma and Grandpa for a few days. On Sunday they treated us to a slide show of ancestral pictures and Grandma talked about each one. We were both so touched by the experience. There was such a feeling of calm and peace in the home. We both decided that we want to be like that when we "grow up."

 

I love Grandma's sweet smile and way of enjoying family time together.  She always made us feel welcome and spoiled us when we visited.  An ideal grandma for sure!
 

Cassia’s daughter: Emma Beckman (11):

I remember walking into a room that had shelves with blankets on them and (Great) Grandma let us pick one to keep.  Mine is blue/navy on one side and on the other side there is pink on the edges with flowers on the inside and pink yarn.  I'm glad to have it.  It helps me remember her and I really like it.
 

Cassia’s son: Jonathan Beckman (13):

 

I remember she gave us an orange ice cream Popsicle before we went out to the playground.  I really liked them.

 

 

Chris Kofoed and Fionnuala Brady Kofoed

 

Pancakes. I have fond memories of Mom’s pancakes. Always made from scratch, they would give me energy for hours. Occasionally, Mom would forget to put salt in the batch, which made them, uh, not as good as usual. Once I tried to remedy the deficit with a salt shaker, which didn’t work too well. 

 

Encouraging good eating habits was important to Mom and she always cooked such well-balanced meals. Always frugal, though, I remember her home-made salad dressing of ketchup and mayonnaise. Commercial dressings must have seemed too extravagant for a child of the Great Depression. She did make an exception when Ranch dressing made its way to Idaho.

 

Another impression I have of Mom is her work ethic. She was a hard worker and busied herself constantly with chores around the house, working in the garden, and many other duties at church. She was such a good example.

 

One not-so-fond memory was related to my name. Since my name (Chris) can be both male and female, she would submit it to companies that were giving away free samples of women’s products. Consequently, I would get a package in the mail with pantyhose and similar items. As a teenager, that was very uncool. 

 

I was raised well and I have great parents to thank for that.   

 

 

Memories of Aunt Verla

By Sherleen Parker

Daughter of Fay Kofoed Byington, Glen’s Sister

 

We, as Fay's family wanted to share some of our memories of Aunt Verla. To us she was an elect lady and we all love her. 

First I will share some memories from Fay's oral history.

In Fay's oral history she states: (This was when Fay was talking about when she and Ardell lived in Lava just across from Verla and Glen, right after they were married.)

Early Lava:

"Then Verla had Leola and Leola was a little bit older than Sherry. We used to take--there'd be so much snow that we couldn't drive. So we had a sleigh, and we had a big orange crate on the sleigh. It would be really cold and we decided we needed to go to Relief Society or something like that, so we'd load Sherry in one end of the orange crate, and Leola in the other end of the orange crate, and we'd cover them all up. You couldn't even see that we had kids in that sleigh.  We'd put them on this sleigh and take out for town, which was about a mile and a half or two miles.  We'd take the kids and go to Relief Society and different things that they'd have during the day when Glen and Dell were working."

Sherry's Memory:

I can remember mother saying that Verla took care of me some of the time because she said that I had the nine-month colic and was a terrible baby. Verla also let her use her washing machine (it was probably an old wringer washer at that time). Fay says Glen and Verla and Fay and Ardell were really close friends.

Homedale Ward  

In Fay's history she also talks about the Homedale Ward. Glen and Verla lived in Wilder and we lived in Homedale but we were all in the Homedale Ward.  That was in the mid 1940's. Fay says:

"Verla was President of the Primary and she had to drive clear from Wilder over to the little white church in Homedale where we had Primary.  When she was put in President, she wanted me to be the Guide Patrol Leader. So I taught the Guide Scouts in Primary." 

At that same time period Fay says:

"Aunt Verla used to wear overshoes. She always had cold feet. So starting in about November, Verla wore overshoes to church whether it was wet, or muddy or no matter what, to keep her feet warm."

Wilder Movie

Fay also tells about going to the movie in Wilder with Glen and Verla: "One night Dell and Glen and I and Verla went over to Wilder. They didn't have a show house (movie theater) in Homedale then.  They had a traveling one.  The lady brought the show in but they had a real theater over in Wilder, so we went over to Wilder to see the show."

"The theater was next door to a church.  It wasn't a Nazarene church.  It was the Holy Rollers, and they were having church. They had all their blinds pulled and everything, and here was the show house and right next to it was the church where they were having their meeting. We pulled up to get out and go in." 

"Glen sat there and he said, 'Look at them.'"

"And we got to looking at them and we looked at them until 12:00 o'clock and never went into the show. I've never seen such goings on in my whole life. Those people leaped over seats and this one got up there, just going on in front of the preacher...A lady was just going on and you could tell she was out of her cotton-picking mind. All of a sudden she just went poom, and toppled over on the floor right in front of him (the preacher)."  

"Glen said, ‘Well aren't they going to do something about her?’ And there she laid, just like that. And we sat there watching these fool people carry on in that church. You know, finally everybody got up and left, and here laid this woman, still in front of the pulpit. We couldn't get Glenn to leave."

"We said, 'We better leave, everybody is leaving.'"

"The preacher and his wife went in the back where they stayed. They brought out an old quilt and threw over her and then went back in the back and went to bed. I was never so flabbergasted in my life.  I often wondered if she ever came around because they turned out the lights and she was still laying in front of the pulpit. So anyway we never did find out."

"And we hadn't even seen the show--we got a free one."

When we were living in Homedale about the time Glen and Verla were living in Wilder, Ardell and his cousin Earl bought a big army truck left over from World War II.  It was shipped from the State of Washington and had to be put together. It came in boxes.  It was huge and very powerful but took a lot of gas to run it and it went really slow. Dad tells this story from his oral history about moving Verla's sister Ileen to Wilder with that truck. 

Moving Ileen

"Verla's sister Ileen and her husband wanted to move.  They lived in Ogden and they wanted to move from Ogden to Wilder. So we brought a load of fruit up around by Lava and peddled fruit to pay our expenses to go down to Ogden to load this truckload of furniture for them to haul back to Wilder. It was a tiring old truck, because about 40 miles an hour was the top speed.  By the time you'd get through all the gears, you were wore out. It had gears, gears, gears, and we'd back up to the gas tank and the tank held 40 gallons, and that 40 gallons of gas didn't last very long."

"Anyway we took this one big long trip and peddled our fruit and went down around Ogden and looked them up.  We got quite a kick out of Ileen because she had two great big boxes--and they were big boxes, stood quite high, full of shoes. We kidded her for years for all those shoes. I've never seen a person have so many shoes in all my life."

They made it home with Ileen's things and I guess that was quite a memorable trip.

Floods of memories come to us when we think of Aunt Verla and your family. Our Payette Lake adventure together and all of the Holidays our families spent playing games and eating the wonderful food Verla and Fay prepared. Mom and Verla made dolls together and Marianne was one of the bridesmaids at my wedding.  She wore a beautiful dress that Aunt Verla had made for her and Verla was a server at my wedding. Verla was always there to love and serve us. Anytime we visited we felt so very much at home. What a special lady she was and of course we know that she still is. What a reunion is going on in heaven.  LaMarr, Fay and Dell, and Glen and Verla and all of the family and friends who are with them now. We miss her but know that she must be very happy and is enjoying this reunion.

May our Heavenly Father bless you and all of your family, with his peace and love and let you know that all will be well.

Our love,
Sherry, Vicki, Roger and Kim


Thoughts From Friends on Verla’s 90th Birthday News Release

 

In 2002 when the church asked her for help making baby quilts for humanitarian efforts, no one knew that eight short years later, she would have made 536 quilts, over 50 per year. Verla will never meet the beneficiary of each meticulously made quilt, but knowing that she helped someone was enough thanks for her.

 

“People will donate fabric laying around their house that will never be used again to Verla. She transforms the cloth scraps into colorful quilts tops, chooses a complimentary piece of material for a back, and adds a decorative border and the quilts are gorgeous," says Judy Gridley of

Fruitland. "I am amazed at how beautiful the little quilts are and then she donates them to people she will never meet.”

 

When I worked with Verla,” Melva Gutshall from New Plymouth says, “she was totally consumed with helping other people through humanitarian aid. She was always quilting and crocheting scarves. I was in awe. Whenever I visited her, I never left her house without being inspired to help other people myself. I don’t have quilting skills but I knew I could do things in other ways because if Verla can do it, I can do it. She actually taught me and my daughter to quilt with the pillowcase method and we will pass this down in our own family."

 

Her sewing is flawless and she uses the pillowcase method so she can easily tie them on her kitchen table.

 

Verla also crochets warm scarves for humanitarian aid. Denise Myers of Fruitland said, "She doesn't fully know the impact of her service. She has made numberless quilts and scarves that have blessed the lives of someone she doesn't even know. Recently she taught me how to crochet so you get a soft feel, something I did not know how to do and I've crocheted my entire life."

 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Verla (Woodbury) Kofoed, please visit our floral store.