Waunita Joyce Rogers

PAUL – Waunita Joyce (Salsbury) Rogers, age 85, was born at home near Republic, Kansas, on March 4, 1928. She went to be with Jesus on Thursday, March 28, 2013.

Joyce was born to Harry and Beulah Salsbury. She had one sister and two brothers. Joyce was third in birth order. Joyce attended school at an elementary country school she walked to every day. She went to high school in Clyde, Kansas, where she lived with her sister. She attended teachers’ summer school and taught for one year at a country school prior to marriage. Joyce was married for 64 years to John Rogers. They were married in Clyde, Kansas, after John returned from the Army in World War II. She and John moved to Rupert in 1957. She resided north of the Paul for 54 years on a homestead farm drawn on the A&B Irrigation District. She moved to the City of Paul, two years ago after her husband passed away. She has resided there since.

Joyce and John started attending the First Baptist Church in Rupert upon their arrival in Rupert and Paul. They later helped start a Baptist church at Norland. When that church failed, they started attending the Rupert First Christian Church and have been faithful members at that church since that time. Joyce was head of the Missions Committee for many years and spent many hours gathering support for foreign and home missions and fixing bulletin boards to display mission projects. She loved attending the ladies’ group meetings as well and served many times at the harvest dinner and other special events. Joyce was also an active member of the Art Guild and attended many craft shows selling and displaying the beautiful, artful things she had created. For many years, after moving to Idaho, Joyce was a member of the 57 Desert Dozen, a group of homestead ladies who had joined together and formed a home extension club. They had many meetings, picnics, and friendship times over the years.

Joyce taught one year in a country school. After becoming a wife and mother, that became her full-time job. She spent countless hours supporting her husband and sewing beautiful things for their four daughters to wear to church and school. Every Easter meant a new dress, new white shoes, a little purse, gloves, etc., to dress up her daughters for Sunday service. She loved plants and had a huge garden and multiple flower beds around the home. She kept them spotless of weeds and always blooming. Just ask the neighbors. You could always see Joyce out hoeing or spraying or something. She and John had a 60-sow pig operation for many years that consumed much of her time, as well as his.

She is survived by three of her four daughters, Linda (Darrel) Rothauge, Dala (Tom) Walton, and Karla (Hermie, Me) Bott; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; one brother in California; and many nieces, nephews, and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, John; one daughter, Jana; her father; mother; sister; and one brother.

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 30, at the Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley, where friends and family may call from 10 until 10:45 a.m. Burial will be in the Paul Cemetery.

The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be directed to the First Christian Praise Chapel in Rupert.