Elfrieda L. Palmer

Elfrieda Liselotte Gerlach Palmer, 89, passed away peacefully Thursday, January 12, 2012 at a local care facility following a joyful life.

Elfrieda was born July 25, 1922 in Royen, East Prussia, Germany, a daughter to Otto Karl and Emilie (Weis) Gerlach. She was seven years old when her family immigrated to the United States and made Rochester, New York their new home. She was raised and educated in New York and married Elbert L. Palmer in 1948.

In 1948, they moved out West and over the remaining years of her life, made Southern Idaho and Northern Utah the base for their growing family. December 9, 1955, their marriage was solemnized in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple and from there that date was the one celebrated as their anniversary.

Elfrieda was an active and faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served as a Sunday school teacher, in many positions in the Relief Society, and as a temple worker in the Logan and Ogden Temples. Her hobbies include music, oil painting, her flower gardens, and collecting dolls. She had an unconditional love for all, her thriftiness was mastered with an ingenuity rivaled by none other, and would choose to eat at Subway over any other restaurant. In addition to her own 12 children, their home was open as they partially raised several grandchildren, and the family was actively involved in the Native American Placement program that was operational many years ago. Her love of family was paramount in her life. When her father passed away, she took the next 13 years to daily care for her mother. Truly, Heaven has a new Angel.

Elfrieda is survived by her children, David (Karen) Palmer, Ashton, ID; Tim (Deanna) Palmer, Fort Worth, TX; Becky (Darrell) Wynder, Pocatello; Ruth (Brent) Roberts, Pocatello; Rachel (Mark) Wiley, Rexburg; Mauri (David) Shumway, Mystic, CT; Abe (Maria) Palmer, Dutch Harbor, AK; and Marty (Dwayne) Hillman, Nashville, TN; two brothers, Harry (Thea) Gerlach, Bountiful, UT; Henry (Sue) Gerlach, Mesa, AZ; 37 grandchildren, 65 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great-grandchildren.

Elfrieda was preceded in death by her husband, Elbert L. Palmer; her parents; two sons; two daughters; two brothers, three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Service information will be posted under the "Service Schedule" tab above.

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