Miriam Scholes Ricks, 100, died on October 24, 2010 at Homestead Assisted Living in Rexburg, Idaho. She was born on April 14, 1910 in Rudy, Idaho, the eighth of nine children of Walter and Phoebe Laurancy Adams Scholes. She received her early schooling in Clark, Idaho. After graduating from high school she attended the LDS Nursing School in Idaho Falls becoming a registered nurse. If any of her family or friends ever needed medical care, Miriam willingly shared her nursing skills. Her life was spent serving others.
Miriam married Aaron O. Ricks on November 4, 1935 in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple. She and Aaron farmed east of Sugar City and were the parents of eight children. Aaron passed away in January of 1975. In 1978 she married Owen Ricks. They served a mission to Nebraska.
She was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Over her lifetime she served in many auxiliaries, including Primary President, Relief Society President, Young Women's organizations, a girls' camp nurse, Sunday School teacher, visiting teacher, and many more. She was a scholar of the scriptures and read from them daily. She was also a member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers organization. Miriam often said she was a part of the LDS Church history because she lived through a lot of it.
Miriam had a talent for making plants and flowers grow. She loved to travel and visited 45 of the 50 states. She enjoyed camping and hiked both Alaska Basin and Table Rock at 80. She liked doing handiwork, and made many beautiful knitted and crocheted afghans. She loved a good book and was very well read. She loved all animals and adopted many strays who found their way to the farm. Miriam was a well-respected member of her church and her community and will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.
She is survived by her children Nelda (Wayne) McClellan of Mackay, Idaho, David (Karen)Ricks of Enoch, Utah, Amy Shirley of Idaho Falls, Steven (Suzanne) Ricks of Idaho Falls, Rex (Margo) Ricks of Grand Junction, Colorado, and Charles (KaraLee) Ricks of Sugar City; a son-in-law Carlton Judkins and a daughter-in-law Patrea Ricks. Miriam was blessed with 40 grandchildren, and 83 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Aaron Orson Ricks, her second husband, Owen Ricks, a daughter Sharon Judkins, a son Max Ricks, and a grandson, John McClellan.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 28, 2010 at the Teton LDS Chapel with Bishop Blair Poulsen officiating. The family will receive friends Wednesday evening from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at Flamm Funeral Home in Rexburg and Thursday from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. at the church prior to services. Interment will be in the Teton-Newdale Cemetery.