HELEN FLORENCE PRICE
HEYBURN – Helen Florence Price, age 93, of Heyburn passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on January 30, 2012 at the Cassia Regional Medical Center in Burley.
She was born August 12, 1918 in Victor, ID, the daughter of Leo Stephen and Florence McDonald Hutchings. After her parents divorced, when Helen was two years old, she lived with her grandparents, Henry C. and Florence Morgan McDonald. She attended school in Victor and Driggs, ID and graduated from Teton High School in Driggs. She continued her education at the Albion State Normal Teacher’s College, graduating in 1938 with a teaching certificate, and later earned her bachelor’s degree from Idaho State University.
Her first teaching assignment was in Samaria, ID, where she met Theon Price, the love of her life. They were married on August 23, 1939 at her home in Driggs. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Logan LDS Temple. Early in their marriage they moved to California, returning to Downey, ID around 1945 where they purchased a service station and built a home and motel. There, she raised her family and helped run the business.
She had a love for music and was called to direct the Madrigal Choir for many years. When they moved to the Burley area in 1963, she began to teach school again at Springdale and then Declo. She also did substitute teaching at Declo and Burley grade schools after retirement.
She was active in the LDS Church and enjoyed being in the music departments of the different organizations as director, organist and choir member. She and Theon had the privilege of serving as missionaries in the Southern States Mission in Jackson, Mississippi. While working summers in Yellowstone Park, at the Hamilton Stores, she and Theon were in charge of the church services in the Canyon area.
She loved her family dearly. Each and every grandchild, great grandchild and great-great grandchild was near and dear to her heart. She loved to read, crochet, sing, play the piano and organ, listen to music, and travel. She always said “If the car was leaving, she wanted to be in it”.
She is survived by her five daughters, Judy MdComb of Layton, UT; Darlene (Bruce) Wheatley of Robin, ID; Cheryl (Larry) Garrelts of Rexburg, ID; Kathy (Rick) Uriguen of Canton, Ohio; and Debbie (Mike) Seal of Rupert, ID; 13 grandchildren; 34 great grandchildren, one great-great grandchild; a sister, Norma Carlson of Leadore, ID; and three brothers, Melvin D. (Virginia) Hutchings of Thayne, WY; Marvin C. (Irene) Hutchings of Marsing and Holly (Marna) Fryer of Salt Lake City, UT.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Theon Price, who died in 2003, two daughters, Jeanine and Linda Louise Price, one son, Gaylen Theon Price, one granddaughter, two great-great grandchildren, a son-in-law, Charles G. McComb, and two brothers, Steven Hutchings and Henry Fryer.
The funeral will be held February 4, 2012 at the Heyburn LDS First and Second Ward Church. Burial will follow at the Samaria Cemetery.