Lorelda Thomas Young

Lorelda Thomas Young, 104, passed away peacefully on March 12, 2009, at her granddaughter’s home in Moses Lake, surrounded by her loving family.

She has now rejoined her beloved son, E. Russell Young, and her husband of 64 years, Ebenezer Russell Young (Eb).

Born Feb 5, 1905, in Wales, Utah, she was the sixth of 11 children of Hyrum Davis and Mary Ann Jordan Thomas. Rel grew up on a farm, milking cows, thinning sugar beets, helping in the kitchen and riding a horse to school. She married Eb Young on June 17, 1922, in Wanship, Utah. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Logan Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Temple.

Eb and Lorelda began their married life in Ely, Nev., where Eb rode the trains as a mail clerk and Lorelda kept house. Their only child, Russell Young, was born there and was their great pride and joy. They later moved to Ogden, Utah, in 1939 and lived there many years before moving to Bountiful, Utah, to live near their son Russ and his wife Ina in 1984. Rel was a life-long member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She and Eb traveled every week to Logan for many years to do temple work. Lorelda served in the Primary and Relief Society. She was active in the DOES, singing in their choir. She was an avid golfer and enjoyed playing bridge, doing crafts and cooking. She loved to wear beautiful hats, kept an immaculate home and enjoyed serving delicious recipes to her family. She worked for a while as a clerk at JC Penney’s and at jewelry stores in Ogden, Utah.

Rel had always wanted to be a nurse but never had the opportunity. She was a lay nurse to two sisters and a sister-in-law as they battled cancer, caring for each for several months. At the age of 82 she nursed Eb for six months as he was bedridden before he died. She loved to travel and was very supportive of all her extended family members visiting grandchildren and nieces, nephews and friends all over the country. In 1988, she went with Russ and Ina to England, Scotland and Wales, visiting the birthplace of her father and grandparents.

In 2005, following the death of her son, Lorelda moved to Moses Lake at the age of 100 to live near her oldest granddaughter. Though her vision and hearing were diminished, she did not even walk with a cane. She especially liked barbeques in the summer and visiting with friends on the phone and greatly enjoyed her new friends at Monroe House. She was so happy when her friend, Irene Finlinson, from Utah, moved to Monroe House. The family would especially like to thank the staff and residents at Monroe House for their friendship and great kindness to Rel in the last years of her life.

The last six months of her life, she lived with her granddaughter and her husband following a broken hip. We wish to thank the staff and doctors who attended her at Samaritan Hospital and Lakeridge Special Care Center. We also extend a special thank you to Dr. David Earl and his staff who cared for Lorelda during her years in Moses Lake so tenderly. There are many others who stayed with Grandma, talked with her and kept her company to whom we are forever grateful. There are too many to name, but particular thanks to Patty Arndt and Ginger Merrell.

Surviving Lorelda is her daughter-in-law, Ina Young Hansen (Clyde) of Bountiful, Utah; five grandchildren, DeAnne Wiberg (Joe), of Moses Lake, Glenna Isner, (Ray) and Barbara Burt (Jim) of Las Vegas, Nev., Debra Legge (Jack) of Wilmington, Del., and Paul R.Young (Deborah) of Kamas, Utah; 20 great-grandchildren and 22 great-great-grandchildren. Also surviving are three sisters-in-law, Norma Thomas, Wanda Spriggs and Dorothy Young, along with many nieces and nephews.

Lorelda was preceded in death also by her 10 siblings, Florence Blackham, Marvella Anderson, Eliza Catherine (Tesse) Smith Scott, Sarah Bosley, Violet Thorne, Statehood, John (Jack), Hyrum, Glen, and Laurence Thomas.

Her life will be celebrated with a viewing and funeral in Bountiful, Utah. Internment will be in Ogden, Utah.

Please leave a message or note for the family and sign the guestbook at www.carverfamilyfuneralhome.com.

Lorelda’s family has asked Carver Family Funeral Home, Moses Lake to care for arrangements.