Bessie Woodward Monson

Bessie Woodward Monson

Bessie Woodward Monson, was reunited with her eternal sweetheart on Sunday, October 9, 2011, 18 days before her 90th birthday. She was born October 27, 1921 in Lewiston, Utah to James Leon and Saphrona Purnell Woodward.

She was the fourth of six children and was educated in Preston City Schools. She was raised on a farm in Franklin, Idaho where she loved spending time with her father helping him with many farm chores. She was always a very hard working girl, never doubting that there was anything she couldn''t do.

As a young girl, she loved attending the Saturday night dances, wearing her beautiful formal. It was during this time she met the love of her life, Rheal Hyrum Monson. They were married October 13, 1937 in Preston, Idaho. The marriage was later solemnized in the Logan LDS Temple. They were blessed with five beautiful children: Clair Rheal Monson, James Ronald Monson, Eileen Jones (Lynn) Baxter, Bonnie Lou (Ken) Frew, and Lynn W. Monson. In 1944, they moved to Ogden where she has resided until her death.

Bessie was always a very ambitious person. She could fix anything, and could create something out of nothing. She was the world''s best cook. She loved sharing what she cooked with others, whether it was some of her bottled treasures or her hand dipped chocolates. People loved coming to her home for meals and the spirit of love they felt there. Friends and family were never sent home without a loaf of homemade bread or other goodies.

She loved her family and devoted her life to them and their needs. She was there to love and support them in all they did. If raising five children wasn''t enough, she made every effort to be there to love and support her grandchildren. The grandchildren loved to come to her house for all the fun times that "Gram" made for them which included the yummy treats, stories, activity books, walks, picking fruit and flowers and making crafts.

Bessie is survived by her two daughters, Eileen Baxter of Morgan and Bonnie Frew of Ogden, and daughters-in-law, Donna Monson of Roy; Sandy Monson of Salt Lake; Ruth Casey Monson of Petaluma, California; and Rhonda Monson of Ogden.

She was preceded in death by her husband, three sons, her parents, two brothers, and two sisters.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, October 14, 2011 at 11 a.m. at Lindquist''s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd. Friends may visit family on Friday from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. at the mortuary. Interment, Lindquist''s Washington Heights Memorial Park, 4500 Washington Blvd. The family would like to thank Applegate Hospice for their loving care of mom, especially nurses Bonnie, Julie and Deanna.