LaVeta Byrl Montgomery

RUPERT – LaVeta Byrl Montgomery, age 93, a resident of Rupert, beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully in her sleep, to return to her Heavenly Father on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012.

LaVeta was born on Oct. 28, 1919, in Rupert, Idaho, to Walter A. and Jennie Brown Sweet Rice of Minidoka. LaVeta was the fifth of 12 children. She was the last living of the twelve children. LaVeta married Earl Morris Honsinger on Nov, 14, 1936. They were later divorced. They had four children, Walter Earl (who died in infancy), James LeRoy, Earlene and Jerry Glen.

She married LaVern Montgomery on Oct. 16, 1948, in Pocatello, Idaho. LaVeta was baptized a member of the LDS Church on March 26, 1955, along with her children. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple on April 15, 1965.

She was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother, and was dearly loved by all her brothers, sisters, nieces, and nephews. She was a wonderful homemaker, cook, and quilter, and was the quilt chairman at the church for many years. She enjoyed cooking for family, friends, and especially loved cooking fried chicken for farm crews and cowboys at the cattle roundups on the desert.

LaVeta enjoyed the outdoors. She was very knowledgeable about plant life and wild flowers in the mountains, and would be the first one out of truck to hike up the mountain searching for wild flowers. She loved to tell stories around the campfire, and be the bear in the bush – shaking the branches to scare the grandkids in the wilderness. She will be remembered with fond memories.

LaVeta was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, LaVern, who died in 1995; her grandson, Monty LaVern Towell; and all of her brothers and sisters, James Rice, Dolly Nussbaum Dowell, Iris Olsen, Clara (Brownie) Rice, Walter Jere Rice, Hyrum William Rice, Lynn Rice, Dorothy Freiburger, Ruby Hutton, Olive Short, and Bonnie Urban.

She is survived by her children, James LeRoy Honsinger, Earlene (Robert) Hatmaker, and Jerry Glen Honsinger; 13 loving grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; and four great-great- grandchildren.

The family expresses their sincere appreciation to the Kurt Harman family and the staff at Rosetta Assisted Living for the loving care and kindness shown to Grandma.

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, at the Rupert LDS 1st Ward Church, (the former Rupert LDS Tabernacle), 806 G St., with Bishop Mark D. Sanderson officiating. Burial will be in the Rupert Cemetery.

Friends may call from 6 until 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9, at the Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley, and from 10 until 10:45 a.m. Saturday at the church.