Thomasene Gail Lybbert

February 4, 1950 – June 6, 2023

Even in the last three years, as she had done the previous seven decades, despite COVID (or perhaps because of it), Thomasene made new friends. After moving into a new home in Richland, Washington, she did not sit and wait and hope someone would come knock on her door – she went out and met everyone.

Growing up, Thomasene overcame childhood illnesses that interrupted many things in her early life. Despite some of these disadvantages Thomasene enjoyed many childhood and teenage activities. She played the flute in the high school band and enjoyed performing at the high school football games. She enjoyed church dance festivals and danced in the All-Church dance festival in Salt Lake City. Thomasene graduated from Moses Lake High School in 1968. She then attended Brigham Young University.

At BYU, Thomasene graduated from the College of Nursing in 1972. She first worked at Utah Valley Medical Center in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, in Provo, Utah, and later at Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake, Washington. The summer before she moved to Spokane, she was in the room when Dale’s first daughter Aubree was born. When she moved to Spokane, she worked at Sacred Heart Medical Center for 34 years. While at Sacred Heart, Thomasene worked in the surgery unit for about 12 years and then transitioned to an outpatient unit where she worked until retirement. She loved the day surgery assignment, as she was no longer required to work weekends or holidays.

She had 28 nieces and nephews; She supported them in their successes and encouraged them during challenges. She did not miss a birthday, a graduation, or significant church and life milestones. Their babies were a particular source of joy. Next to her bed is a photo of one such grandniece, Clara Woodward, who passed away in 2012; Great Aunt ‘Tomi’ has now joined Clara and many others in a joyful reunion.

The definition of dependable, Thomasene discovered long ago she could best express her love of God when she was in service to others. In the 1980s, Thomasene served as both a ward and a stake Relief Society president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Receiving that call to serve gave her great confidence in her abilities.

Thomasene Gail Lybbert died on Tuesday, June 6, 2023. She was born Saturday, Feb. 4, 1950. The first child and daughter of Forest and Betty Lybbert, she is survived by her siblings Dale (LeeAnn) Lybbert of Moses Lake, Washington’ Scott (Teri) Lybbert of Kennewick, Washington; Tracy (Jill) Lybbert of Milan, Italy; Shannon (Bill) Low of Arvada, Colorado; Mark (Marion) Lybbert of University Place, Washington; Rodger (Kay) Graham of New Harmony, Utah and Shelly Hutchinson of Moses Lake, Washington. Her brother Derek, stillborn, preceded her in death.

In 2012, Thomasene retired from nursing and returned to Moses Lake. There she lived, caring for her parents for the last years of their lives.

During the last three years, Thomasene faithfully served in the Columbia River Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was called as a church service missionary assigned to the laundry facility. Then she worked as a temple worker serving in all areas of the temple. She loved the temple and she wanted all to receive the blessings contained therein.

Thomasene wrote: “I have many happy memories of Sunday evenings with my family. We had Sunday School at 8:30 p.m. and then went back to Sacrament Meeting at 4:30 PM. We had dinner between meetings. Then in the evening we had leftovers or whatever we could find. I know it used to drive Mom nuts because the kitchen was a mess. In the evening, we always had popcorn. Dad would read the funnies to us as we all lay on the floor.” Our family loved, worked, and played together and Thomasene was always in the middle of all of it.

Funeral services for Thomasene will be held on Monday June 12, 2023, at 11 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 1849 Nelson Road NE, Moses Lake, Washington. There will be a viewing starting at 10 a.m.

Arrangements are in care of Hillcrest Funerals and Cremation, Kennewick.