Victoria Louise Corless Mendenhall

RICHMOND, UTAH LOUISE MENDENHALL

Our beloved mother, Victoria Louise Corless Mendenhall, was born on April 27, 1911, in Salt Lake City, Utah to Robert Edward and Lulu Rachel Stewart Corless. She Married A. J. Mendenhall on June 22, 1934 in the Logan Temple. They, along with her parents, honeymooned in Yellowstone National Park. Therefore, our oldest brother Jim was born 12 months later, not nine months later. Louise died May 11, 2011 in Richmond, Utah of causes due to age (everything seems to shut down at 100).

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, four brothers, Robert, Don, John, Howard, one grandchild, Julia Bennion Bond, and one great-grandchild, Shandy Anderson. Surviving are her seven children Jim (Sherry) Mendenhall, Rachel Anderson, Joyce (Darryl) Fish, Susan (Spencer) Deiber, Arthur (Pam) Mendenhall, Edward (J'lene) Mendenhal l, and Margaret (Jim) Bennion. Also surviving her are her brother Seth Corless, a sister-in-law, Cheryl Corless and 19 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.

She attended a two room grade school in Paul, Idaho, where she walked a mile and a half each way every day. Several years she received a certificate for no absences and no tardies. She graduated from Heyburn High School, in a class of 27 students. She attended a year at Idaho State College in Pocatello (where her granddaughter attended 75 years later, with a tuition hike of 14,000%!) She attended a year at the University of Utah, but was unable to continue because of the financial constraints of the Depression. (Though she didn't graduate, she and her husband saw to it that all seven of their children graduated from college.) Her favorite class at the U was swimming, and she became a proficient swimmer. Three years ago she showed her grandchildren and great-grandchildren she could still float and swim in Bear Lake.

She was an avid reader, and taught all of her children to love reading. She read to her children, and also to two dear friends who had lost their eyesight. When her eyesight failed, a friend of the family returned the favor by reading to her weekly. Thank you, Mary Ann, Louise did look forward to your masterful reading of Louie L'Amour.

Louise and A. J. worked full time on their dairy farm where she learned to milk, enjoyed gardening, sewed beautiful clothes and costumes for her children, make homemade bread (which she served with milk and onions at their home at summer parties.) She was an active member o of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, serving in many positions, always a devoted Visiting Teacher. She belonged to the DUP, and for many years was a member of the Richmond Literary Club. She loved "the Majesty and beauty of nature." She would often call family or friends to tell them to look at the moon or a beautiful sunset. She could sew under any circumstances, and in her later years became a maker of baby and lap quilts and generously gave them away to the local hospital, friends and family. While Utah was her home for most of her life, she still considered Idaho to be "God's Country." For her nothing could beat the beauty of the annual spring runoff of the Shoshone Falls near Twin Falls.

She endured many hardships: fought three different cancers, had broken several bones, survived the financial woes of the Depression, and to her, the hardest of all, lost her eyesight.

Mother had many friends in her lifetime. While many have passed on, we do want to thank the many workers of Alpine Hospice, the friends and family who visited and read to her. We appreciate the love that was shone at her 100th birthday party. It was a beautiful tribute to a grand lady!

Funeral services will be held on Monday, May 16, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. in the City Creek Ward Chapel, 150 S. 100 E., Richmond, Utah, with Bishop Michael Abbott conducting. Friends may call Sunday from 6-8 p.m. at the church and Monday from 9:30-10:30 a.m. also at the church. Interment will be in the Richmond Cemetery. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.webbmortuary.com.