MALAD, ID – Helen LaRue Daniels Price, 80, passed away Wednesday, December 31, 2008, of causes incident to age in Downey, Idaho.
Helen Price was born March 7, 2008 [sic] [1928 ?], in Malad, Idaho, to Russel Owens and Annie LaRue Daniels, the oldest of three children. She attended elementary and high school in Malad. She also attended Brigham Young University (BYU) for one year post high school. Her parents had a family ranch in the Daniels area that she dearly loved.
Helen grew up riding horses (bareback when she could get away with it). She had an innate connection with horses and loved animals throughout her life. Her fondest memories were of riding horses with her family, particularly her husband, Bill.
She met her future husband, Bill Price, during the summer after her first school year at BYU. However, school could not compete with her courtship and she and Bill were married on August 30, 1947, at the Daniels homestead house. She and Bill were later sealed in the Logan Temple on March 27, 1954. They had three children who were the light of their lives: William Russel, John Daniels, and Rodger “D”.
Bill and Helen moved wherever his work took them for the first few years of their marriage. They lived in a trailer in California while he was logging; in Pocatello, Idaho; and later moved home to Malad where they stayed for the remainder of their lives.
Until her children reached high school, Helen was a homemaker and the center of their home. She then took a job as a librarian at the Oneida County Library, later becoming the head librarian. She served in this position for 25 years until retirement.
As the librarian, she worked with key members of the community to build the new library as it stands in Malad today. She coordinated the move from the old courthouse to the new building and developed several programs in the library to enrich opportunities for the children in the community. She learned how to write grants in order to fund new programs for small community libraries. She worked closely with other small community librarians to build their limited resources. She served on the Idaho State Library Board for several years. She was recognized as Idaho’s Librarian of the Year in 1993 and named the Grand Marshall of Malad’s 4th of July parade. She and her husband served as directors for the Oneida Pioneer Museum on Bannock Street for about 10 years, building the museum to a rich resource.
Helen was active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints throughout her life. She served in numerous capacities in various organizations including holding callings in the Primary, as a counselor in the Relief Society presidency, visiting teaching assignments, and the Family History Center.
Helen and Bill celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with family and friends in 1997.
Helen loved the outdoors and went on many river running trips with her son, John. She and Bill were avid fans for sporting activities at Malad High School. They traveled to many state tournaments even after their own sons graduated. They loved cowboy poetry events and religiously attended the festivals for years.
Her cooking was famous and she shared it generously. She was a consistent contributor to compassionate service and community events. She would bake a favorite dish if she even thought a family member may be coming over. Her cookies and pies were the best and her rolls will never be surpassed. She was the ultimate “Grandma” delighting in her children and grandchildren. She attended numerous games, recitals, and programs. Her grandchildren could always depend on her being in the audience anytime she and grandpa were asked, and they would drive as far as they needed to get there. She would not allow anyone she loved to leave her presence without her receiving “my hug”.
Helen was a devoted and loyal friend. She was the best coach and the greatest teacher by her example. For all of her accomplishments, Helen was a very humble and unassuming woman. She never considered herself as anything but ordinary and just went about doing her best. She loved God, her family, and her country. The loss of her presence will be sorely felt by all who knew and loved her.
Helen was preceded in death by her sweetheart of 58 years, William ‘Bill’ Williams Price; her son, William Russel Price; her grandson, Daniel Russel Price; and her parents, Russel O. and Annie LaRue Daniels. She is survived by two sons, John (Brenda) and Rodger; daughter-in-law, Beth; eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; along with brothers, Dale O. (Carol) and Joseph J. (Euarda) Daniels.
Funeral services will be held at the Malad Third Ward meetinghouse (400 N 200 W) on Saturday, January 3, at 12 noon. Friends and family may visit with the family at the Horsley Funeral Home on Friday, January 2 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and from 10:30-11:30 a.m. prior to the service Saturday. Interment will be in the Malad City Cemetary. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.horsleyfuneralhome.com