RAONA ANN SJOSTROM KESLER

Raona Ann Sjostrom Kesler, 80, a resident of Gooding, passed away March 17, 2012 at her home in Gooding.

She was born April 25, 1931 in Union (now Midvale), UT, to Lester Charles Sjostrom and Orell Jensen Sjostrom. She attended schools in Rockford and Blackfoot, ID, graduating from Blackfoot High School in 1949. On July 25, 1950, she married Ronald Lynn Clark in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. They were later divorced. On September 18, 1970, she married Ray William Kesler in Elko, NV. This marriage was later solemnized in the Jordan River LDS Temple. She was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, having served in many leadership and teaching positions throughout the years. She served five stake missions and she and Ray served two 18 month missions for the church in the Canada Vancouver and Tennessee Nashville missions.

In 1976 they moved from Blackfoot to Challis, ID. From 1979 to 1992 they lived in Jerome, ID. During this time, she attended classes at the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls. In 1992 they moved to Malad, ID. Ray passed away on June 22, 1998. In 1999 she moved to Gooding, ID to be closer to family.

She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; one son, Larry; three sisters, Lois Barton, Berniss Anderson and Evalyn Johnson; one granddaughter; one great granddaughter; one step grandson; one step granddaughter; and three step great grandsons. Raona is survived by her five children, Karen (Mike) Kerr of Gooding, Kevin (Michelle) Clark of Stockton, CA, RaeLyn (Devin) Rigby of Gooding, Radene (Steve) Houser of Spokane Valley, WA, and Launa (Verl) Romrell of Belgrade, MT; 26 grandchildren; 40 great grandchildren; one sister, Cheryl (Brent) Hollinger of Tooele, UT; five stepchildren, Karen harsh of Pocatello, ID, Kathy (Larry) Housley, Cheryl Moss and Brenda (Jay) Johnson, all of Idaho Falls, ID, and Brent (Kathy) Kesler of Portland, OR; 24 step grandchildren; 94 step great grandchildren; and four step great-great grandchildren.

The family would like to express their gratitude to Alliance Hospice for their assistance.

Funeral service will be held March 24 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints n Gooding. A committal service will follow at Fielding Memorial Park Cemetery in Idaho Falls.

Arrangements are under the direction of Demaray Funeral Service, Gooding chapel.