Jennifer Lee Mcpherson

Jennifer Lee (Burgoyne) McPherson, 63, of Rigby, Idaho passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family on February 19, 2021.  She fought a courageous battle with cancer.

Jennifer was born April 27, 1957 in Caribou, Maine a daughter to Eugene Burgoyne and Nadine Briggs.

At the age of two, Jenn moved to Glendive, Montana to stay with her aunt, uncle, and cousin while her mom recovered from tuberculosis.  Later she was joined by her mom in Montana where they resided together.

While attending Dawson County High School, Jenn was set up on a blind date with Mike McPherson by one of her good friends.  The following year, Mike and Jenn were joined in marriage on July 5, 1974 in Glendive, Montana.  Jenn was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on February 19, 1977.  They were later sealed for time and all eternity in the Cardston Alberta LDS Temple on June 8, 1979. She enjoyed serving in multiple organizations in the church throughout her life including Relief Society, Young Women, Sunday School, and Primary. Jenn also served as an early morning seminary teacher and as a church service missionary with her husband.

As the children grew, Jenn went to school to get her nursing degree.  She was determined to graduate college before any of her children.  Jenn graduated in May of 1996 from Miles Community College of Nursing with an Associate’s Degree in Registered Nursing in Miles City, Montana.  Upon graduating, she worked in the community hospital and clinic setting for five years as an RN.  After moving to Idaho, she spent time as an Assistant Director of Nursing at Rexburg Nursing and Rehab for a year before becoming the Director of Nursing at Idaho Falls Care Center in 2003.  Since that time, she has worked as a Director of Nursing in skilled nursing facilities in Wyoming, North Dakota, and Idaho.  Jenn’s love for nursing started at a young age as a candy striper.  She enjoyed taking care of everyone, especially the elderly.  Jenn had a special place in her heart for the staff at Promontory Point in Idaho Falls, Idaho where she was employed leading up to the time of her passing.

She enjoyed being a wife and mother, spoiling her grandkids, quilting, cross-stitch, sewing, keeping up with social media, flower gardening, rearranging furniture, talking on the phone with family and friends, cooking, baking Christmas cookies with her cousin Shirley, rocking in her chair, watching HGTV and the Hallmark channel, shopping for purses and shoes, family gatherings that often included fireworks, traveling to new places, going for rides in the country with her husband and teacup yorkie Bella, and driving fast while listening to music at full volume.  To Mom, the speed limit was just a suggestion!

Jenn loved her family unconditionally, to the moon and back, to infinity and beyond, forever, for always, no matter what.  She is survived by her husband of 46 years, Michael McPherson of Rigby, Idaho; daughter Heather (Jeff) Swanson of Arlington, Washington; son Ryan (Julie) McPherson of Kuna, Idaho; daughter Alison (Greg) Adams of Newdale, Idaho; daughter Amanda (Matt) Beck of Rigby, Idaho; son Tyler (Tara) McPherson of Rigby, Idaho; son Levi (Krista) McPherson of Alpine, Wyoming; 23 grandchildren who know her as Grannie, one sister, and her dog Bella.  Jenn is preceded in death by her mother, father, and two brothers.

The family will receive friends Thursday, February 25, 2021 from 3:00-5:00 p.m. at Eckersell Funeral Home, 101 West Main Street Rigby, Idaho.  Due to Covid-19, a private family funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, February 26, 2021 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 401 West 1 ^st South Rigby, ID 83442.  Burial will be in the Pioneer Cemetery.

A livestream video of the funeral can be viewed on YouTube at https://youtu.be/phzcaeC1ZlI

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Jennifer McPherson Cancer Memorial Fund through

Venmo @Mike-McPherson-24

GoFundMe at https://www.gofundme.com/f/jennifer-mcpherson-memorial-fund?utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer