Marva June Briggs

Marva June Atkinson Briggs, age 83, of Rigby, died at The Gardens, in Rigby Friday December 11, 2009. Marva was born October 12, 1926, in Rexburg, Idaho, the third child of Thomas Atwell Atkinson and Millie Lake Atkinson. When she was very young, she moved with her parents to El Segundo, California. They moved back to Lyman, Idaho in 1936 when her father inherited the family farm. She attended grade school in Lyman, and graduated from Madison High School in Rexburg in 1944. World War II was on and she lived on a f arm out in the country, without a car to drive, she was unable to find work. Her Grandparents had just purchased a home in El Segundo, California, and they asked her if she would go with them and help them move. Her Aunt Vera asked her if she would go to work with her at the Douglas aircraft plant in Inglewood. She worked there as a riveter on the midnight shift for a few months before going to work in the Lab at the Standard Oil Plant in El Segundo. She was working there when she received word that her boy friend, Arnold Briggs had been seriously wounded and had been stationed in an Army Hospital in Walla Walla, Washington. He was in Hospitals for ten months before being discharged. He was discharged October 9, 1945 and soon after moved to California to be with Marva. They were married in Los Angeles, California November 8th 1945. They moved back to Idaho in May 1946 and in 1949 bought a small home on 5 acres of ground in Rigby. They lived there raising their family. They had two boys and two girls. She always said the best decision she ever made was to marry Arnold. Marva started taking night classes while her husband was working shift work at the Site. She continued her studies, and eventually graduated from BYU with a B.S. Degree in 1968. She was employed as an Elementary School teacher at Midway, where she was awarded several outstanding honors including; Teacher of the Year for 1975-1976, the Distinguished Service Award, Certificate of Recognition and was one of six most outstanding employees in Jefferson School District who were honored and received awards for meritory or distinguished service in 1983 and in 1988 received a special Certificate of Recognition Award from the State of Idaho signed by then Governor Cecil Andrus and Secretary of State Pette Cenaruso. She was always proud to be an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Early in her married life she and her husband Arnold were called to serve as Dance Directors in the MIA, a position they held for about three years. She held positions in the Primary, Relief Society and was the Junior Sunday School coordinator for many years. Her favorite assignment was teaching the Compassionate Service Lessons in Relief Society. She and Arnold served a one year Mission for the Church at the Deseret Industries in Idaho Falls and Ucon. They also served a two year mission at the Family History Center in the Rigby Second Ward and the 27th Winter Branch in St. George, Utah. After she retired they both enjoyed traveling in their motor home with their friends. They traveled through Canada and the western United States. They spent their winters in Bullhead City, and Yuma, Arizona. They took a cruise to the Bahamas and Hawaii with Lorin and Kay Briggs. They eventually settled on spending their winters in St. George, Utah. She is survived by her three beautiful children, Connie (Jeff) Swegle, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Tami Sue (Larry) Taylor and Lance Cory (Susan) Briggs of Rigby, fourteen grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. But into each life some rain must fall. The tragic death of their granddaughter Chelsea Anne Taylor the daughter of Tami and Larry Taylor, in an automobile accident and then the sudden death of their son Bradley, who had just turned fifty. He left behind a wife Deanne and five sons. Funeral services will be held Tuesday December 15, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. in the Rigby East Stake Center, 4021 East 300 North. The family will visit with friends on Monday evening from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at Eckersell Memorial Chapel and on Tuesday from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. at the Stake Center. Burial will be in the Sutton Cemetery in Archer, Idaho.