Reva Fern Barnhill, 99, of Sugar City, died May 17, 2011 at Madison Memorial Hospital of natural causes. She was born February 18, 1912, in Sharon, Wisconsin the first of five children born to Elmer and Mary Ripley Groskinsky.

She graduated from Chanute High School in Kansas as valedictorian and later moved to Chicago and attended Northwestern Business College. She earned her a secretary degree and went to work at a bakery as an office clerk.

She married George E. Barnhill, her high school sweetheart, in Chicago, on June 4, 1932. Her husband worked for Continental Baking Company and was manager of the company's World Fair booth in Chicago and sold and shipped angel food cakes from 1933 to 1934. Later they moved to Richmond, Virginia where he continued his baking business during the war years.

She lived most of her life in southeastern Kansas. She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and in many aspects she and her husband were pioneers for the church in the Coffeyville Branch of the Tulsa Oklahoma Stake. They served many years as leaders in this small branch that the local members referred to as the "Postumville" branch.

In 1989, they moved to Sugar City to be closer to their family. Both served as sealing patrons, by assignment, in the Idaho Falls temple. She loved to help others, play the piano and organ, cook, sew, and do genealogy and family research.

She is survived by sons Robert Edward (Marlene Frances) Barnhill of Banning, California, William Charles (Leola Kaye) Barnhill of Sugar City; son-in-law Alton Peterson of Sandy, Utah; 10 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband George, her daughter Lois Arlene Peterson, and four siblings.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, May 23, 2011at the Sugar City LDS 2nd Ward Chapel with Bishop Walter Deitz officiating. The family will receive friends Sunday evening from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Flamm Funeral Home in Rexburg and Monday from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. at the church prior to services. Interment will be in the Sugar City Cemetery.