Venna Elizabeth Welker Secrist passed away August 17, 2010 at Aarenbrooke Place Assisted Living Home in Eagle, Idaho where she lived for the past three Years.
She was born to Amos and Loretta Welker on May 30, 1910 in their log cabin with a sod roof in Wilford, ID. She was the second of eleven children and the oldest of the seven girls in the family. By the time she was in second grade, the family had moved to St. Anthony. Venna completed the eighth grade in St. Anthony but her education was interrupted so she could work to help support the family.
Venna met Reynold Secrist in Venice, Idaho, and they were married in October 11, 1930 in Rexburg, ID. They lived nearly all of their lives in St. Anthony, except for a few years prior to and during World War II when they lived in Bell, CA. Venna was employed by JC Penney Co. and then by U.S. Rubber Corp in the War effort. The family moved back to St. Anthony in 1945, and soon after, purchased their home on "the island" with land for a horse and cow. Venna had two sons, Jim and Bob. Jim and his wife, Sandie, live in California and Baja Mexico; and Bob and his wife, Judy, live in Boise.
Venna worked hard most of her life, helping her mother and father with the family as a young girl, and doing farm and farm related work as a young woman and later as a sales clerk at JC Penney's, retiring when the store in St. Anthony closed. She then continued to work as the manager of the Carter's Department store in the same building for several years until that store closed, retiring for good in her 70's. Venna always enjoyed working with the public and knew most of the people in town because of her long career in retail sales. She always liked getting dressed up and wore high heeled shoes until she was in her 80's. She worked tirelessly for her family, cooking, cleaning, ironing every piece of clothing the family wore.
The home place on the island was very special to her, and she never missed rising early to have breakfast looking at the Snake River out the large picture window in her kitchen. There was always something to see in the pasture or in the river - from birds to big game - with an occasional moose inhabiting her yard. She enjoyed planting and growing flowers and vegetables. Venna's extended family was a joy in her life as well. She loved getting together with her brothers and sisters for picnics and parties on Memorial Day and Pioneer Day. It was uncanny how she and all her sisters could be talking all at the same time and they all could know what each of the others said. There was little the men could offer in these conversations, so they pretty much stood by watching and marveling at what was transpiring.
Thanksgiving was always a special time for Venna's children and grandchildren to come home for the holiday. She was a consummate cook always knowing what each of her flock liked and taking delight in making it in abundance. No one ever came to her house and left hungry. She was known by her children as the "food pusher".
Venna's spiritual life was very important to her and she found solace in attending church in the St. Anthony 3rd Ward. She had many close friends there who often visited the Temple in Idaho Falls with her. She held a number of positions in the young women's MIA program. She seldom missed church meetings and always seemed to get a lift from the messages and the association with members of her Ward. Her strong faith carried her through the difficult times in her life.
Her husband died in March of 1985 and she lived alone in her home until her memory began to fail. She was able to live alone for several years because of the help she received from the many family members and kind neighbors who watched out for her and helped her maintain her household. She also received care at home by Home Health Assistance through the Office on Aging, and by the local Meals on Wheels program from the St. Anthony Senior Center. In August of 2003 Venna moved to the Spring Creek Manor assisted living home in St. Anthony, then in 2007 to Aarenbrooke Place in Eagle, ID. Those facilities both provided a wonderfully loving and caring family environment for her in her last years.
Venna is survived by her two sons, 5 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, and 6 great-great grandchildren, and a host of nieces and nephews. She also touched many lives in the assisted living homes where she lived the past 7 years.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 21, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. in the St. Anthony 3rd and 4th Wards Chapel. The family will receive friends on Friday from 6:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Bert Flamm Mortuary (581 E. 1st N., St. Anthony) and on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. at the church. Burial will be in the Parker Cemetery.
The family suggests in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Venna Secrist Scholarship fund at South Fremont Education Foundation, PO Box 263, St. Anthony, ID 83445.