Reva Mae Finn

Reva Mae Finn, age 95, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family on Oct. 30, 2021. She was born on May 25, 1926 to William Edgar Hill and Mary Ellen Hill in Idaho Falls, Idaho. She was the third child in a family of five children. She had two sisters, Verna and Jessie and two brothers, Arlo and George. Her family owned and operated a farm in the Shelton area where she was raised.

Reva considered herself a tomboy because she loved to be outside helping her dad with all kinds of farm work. However, she worked with her mother too and learned cooking, sewing and gardening. She attended the Shelton school grades 1 thru 5. Grades 6,7 and 8 were spent at the Clark school and 9,10,11 and 12 at Rigby High School where she graduated in 1944. She was elected queen of the Ag ball in the 9th grade and queen of the Senior ball in the 10th grade.

Reva first met John Finn in the 6th grade. They dated seriously during their senior year of high school. When John was drafted effective right after graduation, they decided to get married before he left to join the Navy. They were married April 21, 1944 in the Logan Temple. When World War 2 ended and John returned, they made their home on the family farm in Clark Ward where they raised potatoes, hay, grain and milked cows. She worked in the field beside her husband whenever she was needed. John worked for the school district as bus supervisor and Reva drove the special ed school bus for him for 24 years. They raised 6 children on the farm, Marilyn, Paul, Boyd, Kirk, Kathy and Mark. It was a good, wholesome life.

Reva always raised a large garden and did lots of canning and freezing. Her family was well fed. Chocolate cake, cinnamon rolls and chicken noodle soup were three of her specialties. She had a talent for sewing and could take old clothes and remake them into beautiful new ones for her children. She loved quilting and made many quilts for the family through the years. She had a curious mind and loved to study the gospel and read her scriptures every day. Reva was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She held callings in Relief Society, Young Women and Primary. Her testimony of the gospel was important to her. She was always interested in and worked on family history.

It was a sad day when the love of her life, John, passed away on Feb. 8, 1990. She has missed him every day since his passing. After John passed away, she filled two missions for the church. One in Nashville, Tennessee where she and her companion taught others how to do family history and the second in Salt Lake City, Utah where she was a secretary in the Joseph Smith Center and also worked in the Family History Library.  After her missions she moved into a manufactured home located beside the family home occupied by son, Mark, and his family. In June of 2020 she moved with Mark and his family to a new home. She had a small apartment that was attached to their home. She loved being independent but also loved the security of being right there with family. She was a brave woman and made the best of living alone for over 30 years. She stayed busy with her hobbies and family. She attended the temple once a week for many years. Reva was a kind and caring woman who was generous to everyone and was willing to do whatever she could to help. Everyone was amazed at her health, longevity, good attitude and mental clarity. She was a blessing in our lives and will be missed by all.

Reva is survived by daughter, Marilyn Wolfley of Salmon, daughter in law, Shirley Finn, of Rigby, son, Kirk (Roberta)Finn of Rigby, daughter, Kathy Cornelius of Payson Utah, son, Mark (Nicole) Finn of Rigby, sister, Jessie Rolfe of Rigby, sister-in-law, Royce Hill of Moses Lake, Washington and 27 grandchildren, 69 great grandchildren, and 13 great, great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by husband, John W. Finn, son Paul J. Finn, son Boyd W. Finn, son-in-law, Dale K. Wolfley, grandson, Brandon Finn, great granddaughter, Shaleah Finn, parents, William Edgar Hill and Mary Ellen Hill, brother, Arlo Hill, sister, Verna Peterson and brother George Hill.

Services will be held at the Clark/Rudy Ward Chapel (198 North 4300 East, Rigby, ID) on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. Viewings will be held Friday, November 5 from 6 to 7:30 pm at Eckersell Funeral Home (101 W. Main Street, Rigby, ID) and on Saturday, Nov. 6 from 9:30 to 10:45 at the church. Interment will be in the Pioneer Cemetery, Rigby, Idaho.