During our last visit with her in October, we were talking about how Kevin would be speaking Spanish on his mission in Ohio. She burst into song in Spanish! We were amazed since we didn't know Grandma knew Spanish. She said she remembered learning the song from her teacher in second grade.
In 2002, while planning our family trip to Nauvoo to see the temple, I called and tried to convince her to come along. I told her that I knew riding for that distance in a car would be hard, so she could take the train and we would pick her up. At the time she was 89. Her comment to me, "Oh, I'd do it if I were younger. If I were only 80, I'd go."
We love you Grandma!
 Ruth Jones Payne Nelson(January 31, 1913 - January 14, 2013)
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. |
