Velma Gardner Bush Dustin

Velma Gardner Bush Dustin Former Mayor of Driggs and Ririe School District Business Mamager dies at age 86. After a long life of service, Velma Dustin died in the home of her grandson Josh & Deneece bush of Rigby, Idaho, Tuesday, September 25, 2007, at the age of 86. Velma was born Nov. 29, 1920 in Shelley, Idaho, the daughter of Orawell and Ethel Owen Gardner, and descended from LDS pioneers who settled the valley. She grew up in a large home on S. Capital along with 8 sisters and 2 brothers, and graduated from Idaho Falls H.S. She attended on year at what was then known as Idaho State College in Pocatello. On May 23, 1941, she married Alfred W. Bush in the Salt Lake Temple, and raised a family of 4 sons, Farrell, Kenneth, Val, and Van in Ririe, Idaho where she worked as Bookkeeper for Snake River Equipment and part-time teacher for Ririe H.S. Later she served as Clerk of the Ririe School Board and Businesss Manager of the Ririe School District. After Alfred’s death she married Blake Dustin of Driggs, Idaho. She served two terms as Mayor of Driggs. Following Blake’s death in 2001, she moved back to Idaho Falls, where she served daily in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple and Family History Center. Throughout her life Velma faithfully served as a teacher and leader in various church callings, as well as in the community, where she was an officer in the Dauther of the Utah Pioneers, and Bookkeeper for various Senior Centers and in 2004 she served as a full-time missionary in the Salt Lake LDS Family History Department. She is survived by three sons and their wives, Farrell & June Bush of Lyman, ID, Kenneth & Debbie Bush of Portland, OR, Val & Judy Bush of Caldwell, ID. She was preceded in death by one son, Van D. Bush, who is survived by his wife, Larraine Barzee Linning Taylor. Velma is survived by Twenty-three grandchildren, and Forty-one Great-Grandchildren, and two Great-Great-Grandchildren. Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, September 29, 2007 at the Rigby LDS Stake Center, (258 W. 1st North, Rigby) Bishop John Schell, officiating. The family will visit with friends from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Saturday at the church. Burial will be in the Ririe Shelton Cemetery under the direction of Eckersell Memorial Chapel in Rigby.