Leatrice Talbot Esplin

Leatrice Talbot Esplin, 85, of Preston Idaho passed away peacefully on March 22, 2025,in Preston Idaho. Leatrice was born in Lewiston, Utah on May 30, 1939, to Denzil Griffeth Talbot and Clarissa Paulina Housley Talbot. She was the 4th child out of 14 children. She graduated from North Cache high school in Richmond, Utah.

On April 8, 1960, she married Roy K. Esplin. They lived most of their married life in Preston, Idaho except a short time in American Falls and in Salt Lake while Roy was attending school. Together they owned a chicken farm, at one time they had 2000+ chickens!

Leat was famous for her cake decorating skills. She worked as a cake decorator at multiple bakeries and made numerous wedding and birthday cakes usually for no money.

She worked for 22 years at Presto Products in Lewiston Utah. She spoke often about her “friends” at work and sometimes we wondered how they got their work done. When she retired from Presto she was bored sitting home so she decided to work part time for her niece Hollie at the Plaza Hotel as a maid and office helper. She really did this so she could spend time with her grandkids and teach them how to clean the rooms. Often, she took them home with her after to let them do stuff their mom would never let them do, like building mud baths in the garden.

Although she had no children of her own, she was a bonus mom and grandma to many especially her niece Hollie who was like a daughter to her. This is how she got her Grandkids Kelton, Kaylee & Kade. She was called as the Ward Librarian in the early 90s and served for over 15 years. She was an avid bowler and was on multiple bowling teams even going to state multiple times. Anyone who knew Leat became her instant friend.

She is survived by her husband Roy Esplin of Preston; by four brothers, Clenn Talbot, Alden (Charlene) Talbot, Don (Marsha) Talbot, DelRa (Dawna) Talbot, by five sisters, Vondelyn Smith, Elaine (Curtis) Mace, ReNae Yeates, Vada (Mike) Vroman, Venice (Curtis) Andersen, by a sister-in-law, Joan Collins; by a brother-in-law, Gene (Pauline) Esplin, and by many nieces and nephews. Also survived by her niece, Hollie (Wood) Moser and her “grandkids” Kelton Moser, Kaylee (Dalton) Stott, and Kade Moser and great-grand son Hudson.

She is preceded in death by a sister, ALeda (Ted) Mitchell, by three brothers, Lyle, DuVal, and Kim Talbot, by a sister-in-law, Gloria Talbot, and by a brother-in-law, Allen Smith.

Funeral services will be held on Sat, March 29, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. in the Preston North Stake Center, 155 N. 2nd W., Preston, Idaho. Viewings will be held on Friday from 6-8 p.m. and Saturday from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the church. Interment will be in the Lewiston, Utah Cemetery. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at webbmortuary.com