Margene Bradshaw

Margene Rigby Bradshaw, 96, of Rupert passed away on Thursday, March 3, 2022, from natural causes.

Margene was born on July 23, 1925, in Newton, Utah to Golden Heber Rigby and LaVerne Barker Rigby. Margene enjoyed an idyllic childhood surrounded by five sisters and one brother. Summers were spent climbing trees, gathering eggs, canning fruit, and buying penny candy at her grandparent's store. Margene graduated from North Cache High School in 1943. She then went on to study Business with an emphasis on secretarial work at Utah State University. Shortly after the war ended, Margene met a handsome soldier from Wellsville named Lynn Bradshaw. Lynn described her as “having long dark brown hair that hung down to the seat of her pants and was the best thing that ever happened to me.” They were married on December 13, 1946, for time and all eternity in the Logan, Utah temple.

After they were married, they spent time in Wellsville, Rexburg, Rigby, and Burley before building their home and settling in Rupert. They were blessed with five sons and two daughters. Margene’s children enjoyed warm, homemade bread nearly every day after school, hot chocolate and toast after every ball game, and her famous homemade ice cream on Sunday nights. She spent her days in quiet service for her family, laundry, ironing, cooking, cleaning, darning socks, and sewing clothes.

Her children remember her home-cooked meals, the special shirts she sewed, and the listening ear she always gave. Her nights out usually consisted of watching her children at their various ball games or bowling in the women's league at the Rupert Bowl.

After her children were raised, Margene enjoyed traveling with Lynn for his job and going to visit their children and grandchildren throughout the US and Canada. She had many callings in the church and always served faithfully and well. Her later years were spent driving out to the feedlot with Lynn, keeping the freezer stocked with Creamies for the grandkids, tending her famous raspberry patch, crocheting, and reading.

Margene was a great conversationalist and a wonderful friend to all who knew her. Her kids and grandkids loved to sit in the rocking chair next to her and chat for hours. She was quick to lend an encouraging word, witty, and always appreciated a good joke. Margene lived quietly and simply, was beloved by everyone, and takes with her a piece of our hearts. Our family is so grateful for the lessons she taught and the legacy she left behind. We are comforted to know that she is once again reunited with her eternal companion in heaven.

“The only way to take the sorrow out of death is to take the love out of life.” (Russell M. Nelson).

She is survived by her children: Jim (Jeanette) Bradshaw of Roseville, CA, Gary (Cheryl) Bradshaw of Layton, UT, Clarke (Marilyn) Bradshaw of Kaysville, UT, Steve (Joy) Bradshaw of Rupert, Terry (Nancy) Bradshaw of Kuna, ID, Linda (Andy) Tongish of West Jordan, UT, and Barbara (Layne) Mackay of Rupert. Her sisters’ Flora Bird, Frances Ravsten, and Mary Jenkins, one brother J Golden Rigby, 35 grandchildren, and 87 great-grandchildren. Margene is preceded in death by her husband, Ezra Lynn Nielsen Bradshaw, her parents: Golden Heber Rigby and LaVerne Barker Rigby; her sisters, Joan Nissen, Barbara Bird, and a great-granddaughter, Emma Bradshaw.

The funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 12, 2022, at the Rupert 3rd Ward Building 526 S F St. Rupert, ID with Bishop Rick Stimpson presiding. A viewing for family and friends will be held on Friday, March 11, 2022, from 6 until 8 pm at Hansen Mortuary in Rupert, and one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will follow at the Rupert Cemetery.

The family would like to thank the staff at Minidoka Memorial Hospital for their gracious and tender care as well as the many friends and neighbors for their thoughtful words and acts of kindness.