Selina Fern Atkinson Willie, 11 January 1906

Selina Fern Atkinson Willie, 96, passed away December 31, 2002 at the Idaho Falls Care Center in Idaho Falls, ID.

She was born January 11, 1906 at Holbrook, Oneida County, ID to Melvin Atkinson and Mary Amanda Sweeten. The Atkinsons were among the very first homesteaders in the Curlew Valley, and Fern was born in the log cabin built in that homestead. She attended schools in Ogden and Bountiful, UT and Holbrook, ID, graduating from Malad High School. She married Arthur Golden Willie in the Salt Lake City Temple on October 3, 1928. They lived and farmed in Holbrook but moved their winter residence to Malad in 1939.

Fern was an accomplished musician who joined with her brother, sister and father during the early days in Holbrook for many funerals. She continued that service to the church and community as a violinist, pianist and organist when she moved to Malad.

An active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Fern served in the Relief Society, genealogy program, Sunday School and Spanish Name Extraction.

Her husband died January 9, 1975. In 1991 she moved to Idaho Falls to live with a daughter.

She was also preceded in death by her parents, brother, Melvin Atkinson, a sister, Arlene Burnett and a daughter, Lynda Collings (Lynn).

She is survived by one son, Wells G. Willie (Marsha), Tremonton, UT; two daughters, Marlene Villegas (Dan), West Valley City, UT and Lorna Hill (Roger), Idaho Falls, ID; 14 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren.

FUNERAL SERVICE
Malad 4th Ward LDS Chapel – January 4, 2003
Bishop mark Alder, officiating

Family Prayer – Bishop Wells G. Willie, son
Prelude & Postlude – Myra Jean John
Invocation – Randall Hill, grandson
Life Sketch – Amy Hill Magruder, granddaughter
Memories – Ryan Hill, grandson
Vocal “Abide With Me” by Brenda Taylor, Bonnie Peterson, Marlo Bailey, granddaughters, acc. by Myra Jean John
Speaker – Roger J. Hill, son in law
Vocal “Together Again These Two” by Mark Alder, acc. by Myra Jean John
Remarks – Bishop Mark Alder
Benediction – Chad Daniels, grandson in law

Concluding Service – Malad City Cemetery
Dedicatory Prayer – Lynn Collings, son in law

CASKET BEARERS
Curtis Willie
Dennis Willie
Chandler Willie
Rik Villegas
Randall Hill
Ryan Hill
Dennis Collings
Devin Daniels
Elder Vance Daniels (WA.D.C. South mission)
Daniel Villegas

HONORARY BEARERS
Eric Taylor
Scott Peterson
Stephen Bailey
Chad Daniels
Dave Magruder
Brenda Taylor
Bonnie Peterson
Marlo Bailey
Danielle Daniels
Angie Pusher
Kaila Hill
Amy Magruder
Lisa LaFramboise

Compassionate service by the Malad 4th Ward Relief Society sisters