Helen Greaves Burrup, 92, passed away June 7, 2010, at Franklin County Medical Center. She was born April 7, 1918, to Cyrus L. (“Roy”) and Leona Geddes Greaves in Preston. Helen’s Greaves, Card, Geddes, Stewart, Carver, and Eames families were early settlers of northern Utah and southeastern Idaho communities. She grew up with five brothers, Cy, Ora, Paul, Reed, and Stewart. Helen graduated from Preston High School in 1935. She attended Idaho State University and graduated from Utah State University in 1940 with a bachelor’s degree in Business. She belonged to Kappa Delta Sorority.
Subsequently, she was employed as a secretary for the Idaho Department of Public Health Nursing, Boise; Remington Arms, United Airlines, and Standard Oil Company, Salt Lake City; and Franklin County Ration Office, Preston.
On February 16, 1946, she married Clyde L. Burrup, of Downey, who had recently returned from serving as a cryptographer in the China-Burma-India Theater during World War II. The couple first resided in Blackfoot where Clyde taught classes at Blackfoot High School. Later, the Burrups moved to Downey where Clyde helped manage his parents’ extensive farming operation and Helen cooked meals for the family and hired hands.
Clyde and Helen solemnized their marriage in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple on October 24, 1949. Clyde was hired as principal of Downey Elementary and Junior High schools in 1952. He retired in 1977 and died in 1996.
Helen was employed as the first secretary of Marsh Valley Middle School, in Arimo, from 1975-1983. She served faithfully in the Downey 2nd LDS Ward Primary, YWMIA, and Relief Society and prepared the weekly Sacrament meeting program for sixteen years. She and Clyde enjoyed doing temple work in the Logan LDS Temple.
She enjoyed volunteer service as a Pink Lady at Marsh Valley Hospital and belonged to the Downey Study Club, Sewing Club, and Daughters of Utah Pioneers’ Camp Jefferson Hunt. For many years she and Clyde belonged to the Birthday Club that included friends from Ogden to Preston. Helen moved to Preston in 1999. She enjoyed participating in Literary Club and DUP Camp Sacajawea.
During her life she enjoyed being a conscientious neighbor, keeping in touch with family and friends, spoiling her beloved grandchildren, shopping, traveling, entertaining, cooking, reading, doing needlework, and keeping her mind alert. She listened to daily news broadcasts, read several newspapers and news magazines weekly, and tried to learn a new vocabulary word every day. She appreciated religious programming on KBYU television when it became difficult to attend weekly church services. Family and friends described her as a wonderful, loving, and lovely lady. She will be greatly missed, but we look forward to being with her again.
Helen was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and siblings. She is survived by her two sons, Roger and Sally (Roper) Burrup, Little Rock, Arkansas, and Jay and Dorothy (Anderson) Burrup, West Valley City, Utah; six grandchildren Scott and wife Katee (Howard) Burrup of Provo, Utah; Amy Burrup, St. George, Utah, and Jeanette, Susan, and Katie Burrup, West Valley City, Utah. She is also survived by a sister-in-law, LaRue Fisher Burrup Johnson, of Preston, and many wonderful and caring nieces, nephews, cousins, and special friends.
The family extends grateful appreciation to the exceptional doctors, nurses, and care givers of Franklin County Medical Center and to Thelma Roley of Access Home Care. Appreciation is also expressed to Rawana Griffeth, a special friend.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 12, 2010, at 11:00 a.m. in the Whitney 2nd Ward meetinghouse (Highway 91 south of Preston near mile marker 5). A viewing will be held Friday evening June 11, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Franklin LDS Stake Chapel located at the corner of 1st East and Main St. in Franklin and from 9:30-10:30 a.m. prior to the funeral at the Whitney Church. Burial will follow in the Downey City Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to www.horsleyfuneral.com
The family suggests in lieu of flowers that contributions be made to either the LDS Church Perpetual Education Fund or Humanitarian Fund.