Jean Newsom

Our beloved mother and grandmother, Jean Newsom, passed quietly from this life to the next on Sunday, December 4, 2022, in Pocatello, Idaho.

Jean was born June 10, 1938, in Kimball, Idaho to Glen and Alice (Jorgensen) Hofhine. They lived on a 200-acre farm in Wapello, Idaho with her Grandma and Grandpa Hofhine, as well as two uncles and an aunt. Jean loved to help her dad with chores on the farm. During these years their family and friends spent summers swimming and winters ice-skating on the canal that ran through the farm. Jean attended grade school in a small one-room schoolhouse in Wapello where she participated in the school rhythm band and always took part in primary conferences, Christmas plays, and programs.

In 1950 the family moved to Aberdeen and then later to Pocatello. Jean attended Irving Junior High School where she participated in Pep Club, Drill Team, Girl’s Council, and Home-Ec Club. She graduated from Pocatello High School where she was involved in Student Government as the Student Body Treasurer. Jean worked at KFC and Fashion Cleaners. Later in life she worked as a lunch lady at Lewis and Clark Elementary and as a “Professional Taster” for Basic American Foods – a job she enjoyed doing with her sister Linda.

During her senior year she met the love of her life, Jack Newsom, at the Deleta Skating Rink on Christmas night. They were engaged on Groundhog Day and then married July 13, 1956. They were sealed as an eternal family in the Idaho Falls Temple on November 23, 1960.

Jack and Jean settled in Pocatello, Idaho and were blessed with six children. Jean loved spending time with family in any capacity, whether playing (winning) a game of canasta, riding the Tilt-a-Whirl at Lagoon, or even just visiting. She also loved spending time with her sister Linda doing genealogy or perming each other’s hair. She loved camping, especially the annual Jorgensen-Taylor Family Reunion. Some of her favorite camping spots were in Sawmill Canyon and at Mormon Bend on the Salmon River. These trips were among her most cherished memories, and all of the grandkids remember camping trips with “Grandma Jean.”

Jean was very talented and blessed her family with those talents. Throughout our lives we could see physical manifestations of her love through quilts, afghans, baby blankets and booties – and of course our very favorite dishcloths – each made with tender loving care by our mom.

Jean was a master candy maker, and each December her home would turn into a chocolate making factory. This brought much happiness to Jean as she was able to share these delicious candies with all those that she loved. She even kept a list of everyone’s favorites so she would know just what to include in their box to make them feel loved.

Jean was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served endless hours in the Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary. She truly loved those that she served with and all of the opportunities to help others that came from her church service.

Jean’s legacy is one of faith, love, and kindness. She exemplified these attributes in all she did. Whether through a chocolate recipe, a handmade dishcloth, or through her testimony of Christ, those who love Jean feel her faith, love, and kindness still.

She is survived by her children, Kathy (Wade) Mooso, Jodi (Phillip) Williams, Julie (Scott) Stecklein, Kory (Jackie) Newsom, and Amy (Richard) Porter, 14 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, 5 great-great-grandchildren, and a sister Linda (Larry) Elliott and sister-in-law JoAnne (Dee) Hofhine.

She was preceded in death by her husband Jack Newsom, daughter Debbie Lynn Newsom, grandson Tyler Williams, parents Glen and Alice Hofhine, and brother Dee Hofhine.

Our family wants to extend our deep heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the caregivers of Brookdale Chubbuck for the tender loving care you showed our mother and grandmother during the time she was under your care.

Family will receive friends and relatives at a viewing Thursday, December 8, 2022, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Wilks Funeral Home, 211 W. Chubbuck Road, Chubbuck, ID 83202. Funeral services will be held at the LDS Church, 4010 Hawthorne Road (Quinn & Hawthorne) Pocatello, ID on Friday, December 9, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. with a viewing held at 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. prior to the services. Internment at Mountain View Cemetery.

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