Ruth Jones Payne Nelson

Ruth Jones Payne Nelson, 99, of Idaho Falls, died Monday, January 14, 2013, 17 days before her 100th birthday. She was born January 31, 1913, in Lewisville to Joseph Wilford Jones and Harriet Alice Robinson Jones, the youngest living child of 14. She was raised and attended schools in Rigby, graduating from Rigby High School and continued her education at ISU and Ricks College. On May 11, 1935 she married Walter John Payne in Ogden, Utah; their marriage was solemnized in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple on July 21, 1954. She was widowed at age 39; during this time she raise their 5 children, worked 2 jobs, continued her education to earn her teaching certificate and kept the family farm running. She taught 2nd grade in Rigby and Menan for 24 years. In 1961, she moved to Rexburg, and on April 16, 1966, she married Harold Nelson. She enjoyed spending her summers working with Harold in Yellowstone Park. In 1977 they settled in Idaho Falls, after the Teton Dam Flood. After retiring, she and Harold spent winters with her daughter Reta and son-in-law, Spencer in St. George, Utah. Although in her 80’s, she took courses at Dixie College, and kept active, hiking Zion’s and Snow Canyon. Ruth was the last living granddaughter of Mary Taylor, who crossed the plains with the Martin Handcart Company. She was proud of her early pioneer heritage, and loved teaching her posterity of their legacy. She served in the Idaho Falls LDS temple, volunteered at Deseret Industries, supported her grandsons during their LDS missions and was a DUP member. Ruth loved reading, gardening, canning, drying fruit and vegetables and planning family gatherings. In her 90’s, she was cared for by her daughters, Reta and Joyce, over the last several years she lived with Joyce and Boyd Grover; Boyd also passed away January 14, 2013. The last 5 months of her life she was lovingly cared for by her grandson Matt Dyorich and his wife Becky. She is survived by her daughters, Reta (Spencer) Adams, of St. George, Utah, Joyce (Boyd) Grover, of Shelley, step-daughters Carol (Earl) Miller, of Idaho Falls, Valene (Jerry) Hoggan, of Idaho Falls, sons, Walter Craig (Joy) Payne, of Sandy, Utah, Joseph Brent (Eloise) Payne, of Idaho Falls, John C. (Judy) Payne, of Idaho Falls, step-sons, Marlyn (Tess) Nelson, of Shelley, Ronald (Diana) Nelson, of Idaho Falls, 19 grandchildren 36 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husbands, 13 siblings and her parents. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, January 18, 2013, at the Coltman LDS Chapel (5th East, Lewisville Hwy) the family will receive friends from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., Thursday at Eckersell Memorial Chapel, 101 W. Main Street, Rigby and from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., prior to services, at the church. Burial will be in the Grant Central Cemetery, services are under the care of Eckersell Memorial Chapel in Rigby.