J'Lene Siepert Rudd of Rexburg passed away at her home on Tuesday, February 2nd after a lifetime of loving family, friends and neighbors.

She was born June 24, 1938 to Mark and Ruby Richman Siepert in Rexburg, Idaho. She was the oldest of seven children: Jerry (Carolyn) of Rexburg, Idaho; Blair (Chris) of Preston, Idaho; Linda Ricks (Paul) of Rexburg; Yvonne Robinson (Glenn) of Sandy, Utah; Stephen (Sandy, now deceased) of Charlotte, North Carolina and RaNae McKennon (Monte) of Mendon, Utah.

J'Lene lived most of her life in Rexburg Idaho, graduating from Madison High School in 1956. Her lifelong dream was to be a beautician; however her father asked that she attend Ricks College for a year before entering Beauty School. She graduated from Beauty College in 1958 and began working at the Powder Puff in Rexburg.

J'Lene married Merrill W Rudd of Parker, Idaho on December 19th in the Idaho Falls Temple. They started their married life in Provo, Utah, while Merrill attended Brigham Young University. They welcomed their first child, Julie in 1959. When three months old, they moved for three months to Downey, California for an accounting internship with the national accounting firm, Haskins and Sells. Merrill graduated in 1960 from BYU. Two sons joined their family during that time, Marlon in 1961 and Mark in 1962.

J'Lene and Merrill purchased their first home in Bountiful, Utah in 1962 and welcomed their third son, Melvin in 1964. Soon after his birth they relocated to Rexburg. Merrill opened the first CPA office north of Idaho Falls on Main Street in Rexburg.

J'Lene felt at home in Rexburg, and often remarked that she was a 'Rexburg Girl'. Their forth son, Mitchell, was born in 1971. Her father Mark Siepert, built their dream home which they moved into the Christmas of 1973. The new home included a beauty shop in the basement. She developed a close relationship with all the beauty shop "ladies" for more than 45 years. Their last son Marshall was born in 1977.

They built a family cabin in Island Park on the outlet of Henry's Lake that they enjoyed thoroughly with family, friends and church groups for many years. She was always happy to host a party and plan a meal. She felt very comfortable in front of a crowd and was forever an entertainer.

Merrill and J'Lene were able to serve an LDS proselyting mission to Edinburgh, Scotland in 1996, office couple missionaries to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 2001 and Temple Square with 160 Sister missionaries from around the world in Salt Lake City, Utah in 2005.

Merrill and J'Lene have enjoyed travelling around the world, having visited every state, as well as, Canada, Europe, Asia, Australia and South America. They were on a family trip in New Orleans when they heard on the news of the devastation of the Teton Dam disaster. They rapidly returned to find Merrill's business destroyed, her childhood home severely damaged, but their home on the Rexburg hill unaffected.

J'Lene remained positive through her entire life, every baby was the most beautiful, every meal the best she'd ever eaten, and every movie the greatest she'd ever seen.

After the children had left them as empty nesters, they enjoyed watching the Hallmark Channel together as well as many television shows. She and Merrill often shared a pact that if he would watch a show with her, that she would watch a ball game with him.

J'Lene has worked as an ordinance worker in the Idaho Falls and Rexburg temples as well as a temple secretary in Rexburg. She has enjoyed working in her home ward where she served as Relief Society President as well as serving on the Ricks College campus in various capacities. One of her favorite assignments on campus was with the Lambda Delta Sigma women's sorority which she led for several years. She also found great satisfaction working with unwed mothers that had enrolled at LDS Social Services.

She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Julie Hebertson (Jon) of Sandy, Utah; Marlon of Midway, Utah; Mark (Lynda) of Rexburg; Melvin (Gailiene) of Sugar City; Mitchell (Kim) of Holiday, Utah and Marshall (Krista) of Taylorsville, Utah, 21 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 6, at the Rexburg East Stake Center. The family will receive friends Friday evening from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Flamm Funeral Home in Rexburg and Saturday from 12:00 to 12:45 p.m. at the stake center prior to services. Interment will be in the Rexburg Cemetery.