Reta Harriet Wood

RUPERT – Reta Harriet Salkield Wood, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Thursday, December 11, 2025, at the age of 99 at Highland Estates Assisted Living in Burley.

Reta was born May 20, 1926, in Driggs Idaho, the 12th of 13 children born to John Benjamin and Harriet Spendlove Salkield. She was raised in the Teton Valley and met the love of her life, Vern Elba Wood, when she was 13 years old. They later dated in high school and married her senior year in December, 1943. They were sealed in the Idaho Falls Idaho Temple three years later when it opened. They farmed and raised milk cows in the Teton Valley. In December 1960, they moved their family to Rupert, Idaho, to continue farming. Reta also worked as a lead lady in the JR Simplot trim room and lab for 27 years until she retired. She loved everyone she met and worked with.

Reta loved to sew and made many dresses for her daughter and granddaughters. She also became interested in making porcelain dolls. She poured her own molds, baked them in the Kiln, painted their faces, and made their clothes. The first doll she made was entered in the Cassia County Fair and won First Place. She loved giving them to family and friends. Reta was a great cook and loved sharing her baked goods with others – especially her famous cinnamon rolls. She loved fishing, hunting, 4-wheeling, and riding horses with her family. Her family was her entire life and she loved them dearly.

Reta was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served in all of the auxiliary organizations throughout her life. At the age of 77, she was called to be Relief Society president. She loved serving and was always the first one to help. One of her favorite callings was serving a mission for 5 ½ years at the FamilySearch Center in Burley. She loved helping others search for their ancestors.

She is survived by her five children and their spouses, Jeffrey Craig (Lois), Kenneth Vern (Viki), Susan Joan (David) Simmons, Steve Cory, and Bret Mitchell (Lisa); several grandchildren; great-grandchildren; and great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her loving spouse, Vern (April 20, 2020); both parents; and 12 siblings.

We would like to thank the staff at Highland Estates for their loving care and compassion along with a special thanks to all our family, friends and neighbors for their loving thoughts and prayers.

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, December 29, at Rasmussen-Wilson Funeral Home, located at 1350 E. 16th Street, in Burley, with Bishop Boyd Bingham officiating.

A graveside service will take place at 1 p.m. Tuesday, December 30, at Bates Cemetery in Driggs, Idaho.

In lieu of flowers, the family recommends that donations, in Reta’s name, be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America for her loving husband, Vern (https://alzfdn.org/support-us/donate) or any charity of your preference.

A live webcast of the Funeral Service will be available and maintained at the following link: https://youtu.be/SqWUptTuGvI.