Bessie Spencer Sommers

Bessie Spencer Sommers, 90, of Idaho Falls, passed away Sunday, December 8, 2013 at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls, Idaho, due to advanced age. She was born December 1, 1923, in Salem, Idaho to Orson Pratt Spencer and Nanny “Annie” Engeborg Kylen Spencer. She was the youngest of six siblings. She was raised on a farm in Hibbard, Idaho where she learned the art of working hard. She didn’t have to work in the fields but she did pick the berries, take care of the garden, help can fruit for the winter months and learned to cook. Her mother took great pain to teach her to be an excellent cook. Many good meals were served from her table. She attended Hibbard Elementary and Madison High School graduating in 1941. Bessie was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She served in Scouting, Relief Society and was an excellent Visiting Teacher. She also enjoyed her calling as a Sealing Patron in the Idaho Falls Temple for several years. On November 4, 1941 she married Samuel Sommers Jr. at Burton, Idaho. This marriage was solemnized in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple February 28, 1998. They were blessed with three healthy, happy, and active children. They lived in Rexburg and then Butte, Montana where Sam worked in the Copper Mines before he entered WWII. They later spent 50 years in Lewisville, Idaho and in 2002 moved to Idaho Falls. Sam was a Ceramic Tile setter and Bessie worked with him at times and took care of all the bookwork. Sam was an avid fisherman, Bessie and the kids learned to enjoy camping and fishing too. In later years she and Sam enjoyed RVing, traveling, family dinners and special get-togethers especially with her children and grandchildren. Bessie is survived by her son, Garold Leon (Ronna Lee) Sommers, of Idaho Falls, daughter, Marilyn Rae (Byron) Wheatley, of Idaho Falls, a son-in-law, Lee Mortensen, of Roy, Utah, 12 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Sam, daughter, Linda Kay Mortensen, grandson, Lence Mortensen, sister, Gladys Hinckley, brothers, Arnold, Clifford, Harold, Elmer, and half-brother, Harry Schuster. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, December 14, 2013, at Eckersell Memorial Chapel, 101 West Main Street, Rigby. The family will receive friends from 10:00 to 10:50 a.m. prior to services at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Lewisville Cemetery. Services are under the care of Eckersell Memorial Chapel in Rigby.