Larene Barfuss Grover

LaRene Barfuss Grover was born at home October 30, 1943 in Bancroft, Bannock County, Idaho to Oliver Fredrick Barfuss and Cora (Lester) Barfuss.

She was preceded in death by her husband Robert Lee Grover, her parents Oliver and Cora Barfuss. Siblings- Isabel (Barfuss) Griffeth, Corren (Barfuss) Alder, Von Lester Barfuss, Jan (Barfuss) Schmidt and Kim (Lester) Barfuss. Sons-in-laws, Charles DePaola and Edwin Joslin. Granddaughter- Sara DePaola.

She is survived by her children: Ronald B Grover (Nilliwan); Debbie Lee (Grover) DePaola Anderson (Neil), and Cynthia Ann Joslin.

Grandchildren: Matthew Joslin, Asley Joslin, Anthony DePaola, Rowland Grover (Yin Yin), Reynold Grover (Angela), Rina (Grover Xiong (Tou Xiong). Great grandchildren: Ashton Jeppson-Joslin, Matthew Joslin Jr., Karter Joslin. Kaydyn Timmons, Katherine DePaola, Sophia DePaola and Nova Thomas. Ellie Xiong, Aiden Xiong and Raiden Grover and many other grand, great and great great grandchildren from previous marriages of Charles DePaola and Neil Anderson.

LaRene Grover had many church callings starting at a very young age. She taught Sunday School for primary, and at age 14 lead the music in Sacrament meeting. She loved her calling as homemaking director which she shared with her sister Jan. She taught primary and loved teaching young women.

She worked tirelessly on family history her whole life, starting at the age of 3. Her mom would print out a name and give it to her and a book and have her find it and place the paper on the page. She had a calendar every year that had every birth, death and anniversary of her own family and her siblings families.

She did thousands of hours of extraction and indexing of genealogy records when it first started and had to be done by hand, then she would type it into the computer. She even roped Bob and Cindy into helping her.

She loved talking on the phone, especially with her sisters. Even when she worked in the morning with Jan. they’d be on the phone that evening, talking for hours.

She made her home a welcoming place where everyone wanted to be. Family and friends, kids’ friends were always welcome, there was always homemade goodies and lot of good food. If there was a food she didn’t the kids didn’t have to eat it.

Holidays were a highlight at the Grover home. Especially Christmas, they started at Thanksgiving and celebrated through New Year. Every inch of the house was decorated. Games, gifts, stacks of homemade cookies and Christmas candy, parceled out to be delivered by Bob and the kids across town and for all of their employees.

LaRene didn’t care for camping but loved going camping being able to spend time with her siblings and their families.

She worked at the family businesses. The Valley View nursing home, The Spa Plunge swimming pool and managed their rental properties. After they closed the nursing home after 35 years of operation. Bob and LaRene moved to Pocatello, Idaho and managed the Village Apartments for 17 years, when it was sold. They moved to Idaho Falls, Idaho and managed multiple apartment complexes for Remax for 8 years.

In 2012, Bob and LaRene retired and moved back to Lava Hot Springs, Idaho to their family home.

LaRene lost Bob Dec 7, 2021. She was never the same again. The biggest highlight of her life after his death was when she was sealed to him February 25, 2022 which would have been their 61st wedding anniversary in the Pocatello, Idaho temple.

LaRene suffered with many health issues later in life. After a short stay in the hospital. She was moved to hospice care and continued to decline. She passed away approximately 12:20 am April 25, 2024 in a care facility in Pocatello Idaho.

The funeral service will be held Saturday, May 4, 2024 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. Viewing and family prayer will be held that morning starting at 10 am. The funeral will follow and will start at 11 am. and then conclude at the Lava Cemetery for the dedication of the grave starting at 12 noon.A luncheon for family and friends will be provide by the Lava ward Relief Society sisters at the church at 1 pm.

Her family would like to extend their sincere thanks and appreciation to everyone who has helped LaRene the past couple of years and have helped the family during this time.

Funeral will be conducted by Bishop Eric Christesen and will be under the direction of Wilks Funeral Homes out of Chubbuck, Idaho.

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