Elden Leigh Wood

BURLEY – Just before noon on Monday, April 27, 2020, Elden Leigh Wood, age 94, passed away peacefully in his home in Burley, Idaho. He was blessed to be surrounded by his eternal companion Picola, his three oldest daughters, a son-in-law, and caring nurses at the time of his passing.

The family would like to express our deepest appreciation to each of the hospice workers and nurses from Minidoka Home Health & Hospice whose expert, gentle, and loving care always brought an added measure of relief, comfort, and much-needed reassurance to Elden and his family.

Elden Leigh Wood was born on July 18, 1925, in Kimberly, Idaho, the sixth of seven children born to Roy Wood and Stella Permelia Sudweeks. Roy served as Elden’s bishop for 15 of his growing up years. From his father, Elden learned to work hard on their 160-acre farm, and from his mother he developed a loving, gentle, and poetic heart.

Elden served in the Army of Occupation as Combat Engineer Staff Sergeant in Seoul, Korea, and Okinawa, serving from March 1945 to January 1947. Following his military service, he attended Brigham Young University where he studied music and French. He sang the leading role of Faust in the opera Faust, Canio in the Opera Pagliacci, Bastien in the opera Bastien et Bastienne, and Don Jose in the opera Carmen. It was during an opera workshop rehearsal for the opera Carmen that Elden first met and eventually married the beautiful Picola Grant Hatch on June 6, 1949, in the Salt Lake Temple. At the time of his passing, Elden and Picola had been married for nearly 71 years.

From 1966 until his retirement in 1990 from the Cassia County School District, among other things, Elden was the choral director of the famed Burley High School Bel Canto choir. He and Picola also owned the Wood Music Store in Burley for many years which began a legacy of music and teaching throughout the community.

In 1983, Elden received the very prestigious Idaho Music Educator of the Year Award. He served as bishop of the Burley 7th Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Burley West Stake from 1982-1987. Each Christmas Eve, Bishop Wood drove past every home in his ward and tried to think about the dear people who lived there and what he could do to help them. It was like a father tucking his children in bed at night. He loved his ward members and they felt it.

In addition to serving seven full-time missions for the church, one as the president of the West Indies Mission, both he and Picola served in the Boise Idaho and Twin Idaho Temples 12 years, for a combined total of 28 years of service to the Lord all across the globe.

Elden is survived by his beloved wife, Picola Grant Hatch Wood; their six children, Alan Roy Wood of Tooele, Utah, Ann Leigh Harper (Teague) of Burley, Janine Green of Provo, Utah, Renee Packer (Stephen) of Syracuse, Utah, Claire Lynne Prigmore (Steve) of Syracuse, Utah, and Lucie Grant Gibbons (Barry) of Bountiful, Utah; 43 grandchildren; 147 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren, with a total posterity of 244. Elden was preceded in death by his parents; each of his siblings; and recently a grandson, Seth Teague Harper, who passed away on January 3, 2020.

Sometimes a man comes into this world with such innate purity, steadfast integrity, and unwavering devotion for God and all mankind that the world is made infinitely better because of him. And when that man is at last called home, those left behind cannot help but be better for having been touched by his Christlike goodness.

The lives made better by Elden and his beloved eternal companion, Picola, are incalculable. He has now returned home and is rejoicing with dear loved ones who have gone before to await that glorious day when “this mortal must put on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:53), when all things shall be made whole again through the grace of Christ Jesus. As with Paul speaking to Timothy, he can also say, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7). Elden can now enjoy all that God has in store for those who love Him and keep His commandments.

From one of his favorite poems by Robert Frost, The Road Not Taken:

"Two roads diverged in a wood and I— I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference."

Your life, Elden, has made all the difference.

A private family viewing will be held from 10 a.m. until noon, Monday, May 4, at Rasmussen-Wilson Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley.

A private graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, May 4, at Gem Memorial Gardens, 2435 Overland Ave., in Burley.

All services will be held in accordance with state-mandated social distancing practices.

A live webcast of the Viewing will be available at the following link: https://youtu.be/E6kjAKo5c4A

A live webcast of the Graveside Service will be available at the following link: https://youtu.be/akZ2DiIYKO4