Faye Nef

Faye S. Nef was born in Burton, Madison County, Idaho on 5 October, 1929 to T. Leonard and Grace Smith. She grew up in Burton and later attended Ricks College from 1947-49 and graduated with an associate’s degree in business. She married LaMar S. Nef on 3 April 1951 in the Idaho Falls Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They farmed in Burton for three years. LaMar drew a farm under the GI Homesteading program in Minidoka County in 1953. They moved to Rupert, Idaho in March of 1954 and farmed for almost 60 years. They raised ten children: Dennis Nef (Susan) of Fresno, CA, Paul Nef (Belle) of Singapore, Dean Nef of Idaho Falls, ID, Lyle Nef (Karla) of Rupert, I., Kent Nef (Nicki) of Syracuse, UT, Susan Schmutz (Chris) of Bountiful, U., Reed Nef (Julie) of Campbell, CA, Karen Patton (John) of Spring Creek, NV, Nancy Williamson (Scott) of American Fork, UT, and Diane Carrell (Danny) of Houston, TX.

Faye’s life was dedicated to her children, to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and to the support of her husband on the farm. Faye and LaMar developed lifelong relationships with neighbors, ward and stake members, and people they met in service opportunities. In addition to cooking three meals a day for a large family, sewing clothes for herself and her daughters, Faye taught piano lessons to neighborhood kids, served as a 4-H advisor during the summers, and often worked alongside her husband on the farm.

She loved the gospel of Jesus Christ and served in ward and stake callings in most of the auxiliaries of the Church. She and her husband served an 18-month mission for the church in Indonesia and Bangalore, India. After their mission, they served for almost two decades in the Logan, Utah and later, the Twin Falls, Idaho Temples.

When LaMar passed away in 2020, Faye moved from Rupert to American Fork, Utah and lived with her daughter Nancy for 18 months and then moved to the Legacy House in Bountiful for the last two years. She passed away on Friday, 15 November of natural causes. Faye leaves behind ten children, 35 grandchildren and 51 great grandchildren (at last count). The family appreciates the care she received from the staff and nurses at Legacy House and Inspiration Hospice.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, 23 November in Rupert at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (324 E. 18th Street) with visitation from 10:00-10:50, and the funeral at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to Primary Children’s Hospital.