BOUNTIFUL--Loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and friend, Therold D. "Sparky" Sparks, passed away February 15, 1997.
He was born in Ogden, Utah, July 2, 1923, the son of Marvin and Macy Sparks. He was in World War II for four years, spending three years in Hawaii as a railroad engineer. After returning from the war he started his career with the Union Pacific Railroad as a fireman and engineer. He retired in 1987 after 35 years of services.
Survived by his wife, LaRee. They would have celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary on February 19, 1997. Also survived by children: Sherrie (Reuben) Larsen, Pat (Lynn) Anderson, Guy (Donna) Sparks; four grandchildren and one great-grandson; one brother Jay (Marina) Sparks.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, February 19, 1997 at 1 p.m .in the Bountiful 37th Ward Chapel 1500 North 400 East. Friends may call Tuesday evening from 7-8:30 p.m at Russon Brothers Bountiful Mortuary Chapel, 295 North Main, and Wednesday at the Church 11:45-12:45 a.m prior to the services.
Published 16 February 1997 in The Salt Lake Tribune (UT.)
LaRee Jensen Sparks passed away quietly on December 18, 2009 at Federal Heights Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.
She was born in Ovid, Idaho to Charles "Teb" Jensen and Lucille Parker Jensen on March 26, 1928.
She married Therold Sparks on February 19, 1947 in Ovid, Idaho; solemnized later in the Jordan River LDS Temple. They settled in Montpelier, Idaho, where she owned and operated her own beauty salon until 1972 when they moved to Bountiful, Utah.
For many years she enjoyed working with the youth in the LDS Church. She was an avid bowler, enjoyed crocheting, crossword puzzles, and cheering for the Utah Jazz. Her greatest joy in life was watching her children and grandchildren grow up.
She is survived by daughter Pat (Lynn) Anderson; son Guy; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and one great-grandchild on the way. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brother, and one daughter.
Funeral Services and Interment will be held on Wednesday, December 23, 2009 at Mountain View Memorial Estates (3115 East Bengal Boulevard (7800 South), Cottonwood Heights) at 11:00 a.m., with a viewing one hour prior to the services.
Published in the Deseret News on December 20, 2009.
Sherrie Lee Larsen passed away on October 30, 2007. She was born in Montpelier, Idaho on February 26, 1948 to Therold (Sparky) and LaRee Sparks. She graduated from Montpelier High School and LDS Business College. She married Reuben Larsen on February 24, 1968, later divorced.
She was a loving mother to Jim, Shawn (Jaden). A proud and adoring grandma to Brandon, Tanner, Braden, and Avarey.
She was preceded in death by father Therold. Survived by mother LaRee Sparks, sister Pat (Lynn) Anderson, brother Guy Sparks. Also survived by her two dogs Baxter and Bailey. Funeral services will be Monday, November 5, 2007 at 2:00 pm at Mountain View Memorial Mortuary, 3115 East 7800 South. Friends and family may visit 1 hour prior to services. Interment will be at Mountain View Memorial Cemetery.
She will be remembered forever in our hearts.
PHINEAS COOK IS DEAD.
A Pioneer of '47 - Missionary Fare-well - Sunday School Excursion.
Special Correspondence.
Afton, Wyoming. Aug 14 - Phineas cook an old and respected citizen of this place, succumbed to the final call July 24th, at the age of eighty-one years.
Brother Cook's life has been an eventful one. He embraced the Gospel in 1844, arrived in Salt Lake City in 1847. Being a carpenter and millwright by trade he has bee a useful man. He made the first table Brigham Young ate off after arriving in Utah, which is still preserved and kept as a relic by Mrs. Zina D. H. Young, also assisted in building the Lion house. He was the first watermaster Salt Lake City ever had, being appointed by Brigham Young and H. C. Kimball shortly after the arrival of the pioneers. He built the first mill in Sanpete county, ad was the first man to settle in Goshen, Utah Co., and named the place after the village in which he was born. He was one of a party who explored Bear Lake valley, and named the lake "Bear Lake," having an interesting time chasing four bears across the ice on the lake.
The funeral services were very impressive. Patriarchs Archibald Gardner and C. D. Cazier, who had been acquainted with deceased for a period of fifty years, were the speakers. The floral offerings were elegant and profuse, and a large cortege followed the remains to their last resting place in the Afton cemetery.".
NOTE: Undated news article.
Johanna C. Cook was born in Malmo Sweden August 8, 1845. She married a friend of her youth, Jas Jensen, and of this union were born three girls, one of which died in Sweden, the other two, Hilma and Elvira, came with their mother to America. The former having lived in Star Valley a few years is remembered by some of the older residents. The latter married Georbe Shurtliff and lived in Payette, Idaho where she raised a large family.
She and her husband Jensen embraced the Gospel of the Church of Jesus Christ of L.D. S. about 1870. He emigrated to America soon there after and deserted her. She managed by her own efforts and labor to provide for herself and little girls, but never heard from her husband after he reached Chicago.
She steadfastly sought to emigrate to "Zion" and in simple faith prayed to God to open the way, altho her meager means and earning were scarcely sufficient to provide her daily food, for herself and little girls. However she boldly expected to, and proclaimed that she was going soon to emigrate to Utah. Through her friends, a Matson family who had emigrated and settled in Bear Lake County, Idaho, Phineas W. Cook, of swan Creek, (now Lakota) Utah, a well to do rancher and mill owner, became acquainted with her, and sent money to pay her immigration expenses, with the understanding that she was to pay it back when she could. With great rejoicing the money was received, the tickets bought and the journey made. Altho various Swedish friends, fellow emigrants and other sought to persuade her to go else where, true to what she considered right, she went direct to Bear Lake valley, to see the good man who had trusted her with so much money, and to begin at once to pay it back. She became the forth wife of this frugal man, Sep 13, 1878 and about four years later moved with him to Logan, Utah. Reverses came and from that time forward, poverty has been her lot. They sold their home in Logan, in 1889, and moved to Star valley, bringing with them all their possessions, including about 300 head of cattle. Almost all of those perished during that winter which was ???
This issue of this last marriage are Carl, Moses, Kib P., Parley A. and Idalia, all of whom are will known in Star valley, where they lived most of their lives, and who survive her. Also Omer, a twin brother of Emer who died an infant at Logan. Her other daughters have preceded her. Hilma leaving one son, Adelbert who also is well known in Star Valley having been raised by Grandma Cook at Afton. She is survived also by 24 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. Her husband, grandpa Cook died at Afton, Wyoming, July 24, 1900.
Everyone who knew "Grandma Cook" as she was affectionately called, loved her. So far as can be learned no living soul has anything but love and respect for her. To know her was to love her, and she never gave anyone at any time any cause to suffer pain or sorrow. She brought sunshine and joy, comfort and consolation wherever she went. She loved all mankind and was ready, notwithstanding her poverty, to divide all she had to any in need, or give the last cent to some unfortunate.
Cook, Joanna C (22 Feb 1929) Star Valley Independent.
Joanne E. Baker
March 7, 1947 - September 16, 2010
Norwich - Joanne E. (Russillo) Baker, 63, of Baltic Rd., wife of Donald W. Baker, died Thursday evening at the Backus Hospital.
Born in Laconia, New Hampshire on March 7, 1947, she was the daughter of the late Lorenzo and Phyllis (Pomenter) Russillo. Joanne lived in New Hampshire for a short while before moving to Connecticut with her mother and attended Buckingham School there. When she was not in school Joanne would help take care of her brothers and sisters.
She met her husband Donald Baker who her daughter introduced to her and was married to him in Norwich on November 26, 1983. After she was married Joanne worked as a housekeeper and later as a home health care aide for Omni Healthcare until her heart transplant in 2001.
In her spare time Joanne loves to read, watch television especially suspense dramas, finding hidden treasures at yard sales, cooking Italian meals for her family, and playing with her favorite pet Drago, a boxer. Above all else, the one thing she loves and values most in her life is her husband and children which have brought much happiness to her life.
Surviving is her husband, a son Chris Carr f Norwich, two daughters Donna Sellen of Wyoming and Donna M. Streich of Norwich; four brothers Mark A. Baker of Taftville, Joseph Russillo of Norwich, and James and Roland Russillo both of Laconia, New Hampshire, a sister Vickie Streich of Kissimmee, Florida; and a granddaughter Hailey Sellen of Wyoming, and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Labenski Funeral Home, 107 Boswell Ave., Norwich. A graveside service will be held on Thursday at 9 a.m. in Maplewood Cemetery. Published in the Norwich Bulletin on 9/18/2010.
MONTPELIER, Idaho -Maude Hansen Sparks, 89, passed away Friday, November 30, 2007, at the Bear Lake Skilled Nursing Facility in Montpelier,Idaho. She was born April 13, 1918, in Montpelier to Albert and Mabel Dayton Hansen. She lived most of her life in Montpelier, graduating from Montpelier High School. She married Elwood T. Sparks on Jan. 1, 1937. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. They had two sons.
Maude worked as a waitress for several years. She attended beauty school and later opened her own shop in Soda Springs. Maude and her husband later moved to Pocatello. After her husband's death, she lived in Ogden, Utah, spending winters in California, and then moved back to Pocatello.
She is survived by her two sons, Gerald E. (Judy) Sparks and Mickey Lynne (Jacque) Sparks. and a number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, a sister, Helen Smith. and a brother Russ Hansen. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, two brothers and one sister.
The family suggests that donations may be made to the Bear Lake Skilled Nursing Facility. Her family wishes to thank all the wonderful people in the nursing home who took such good care of her.
Funeral services will be held Monday, Dec. 3, 2007, in the Montpelier 1st and 4th Ward Chapel at 485 South 7th St., where friends may visit with the family that morning from i 11 a.m. until 11:45 am. The interment will be in the Montpelier Cemetery with the services under the direction of Matthews Mortuary of Montpelier.