Atha Pearl Murdock Aikele was born on March 16, 1926. She once remarked about her birth, "I cannot remember it, but it must have been a cold, windy and kind of nasty day when I was programmed to come to this earth in March. It was historic for me because I had been blessed to be born in a good community, Thomas, Idaho, to Daniel Lewis Murdock and Annie Pearl Jones." She passed away peacefully surrounded by family in Layton, Utah at the Fairfield Village Senior Living Center, where she had been living for the past 15 months.
Atha grew up in a large family on a farm during the Great Depression. Everyone had to pitch in because farm work at the time was done by hand and horses. Her grandparents had been pioneers in the Rockford, Idaho area. There were no reservoirs, canals, ditches, roads or electricity. There was nothing but sage brush and jack rabbits. They homesteaded the land and went to work.
Atha started her education at Rockford Elementary in a multi-grade classroom which consisted of first and second grade. After finishing her first grade school work in both reading and math, she found herself looking over at the work the second graders were doing and saying, "Oh, I can do that." She would take their spelling tests and would do everything they did in addition to her own work. At the end of first grade when she went home with her report card, it said that she was promoted to the third grade.
As she advanced through school she participated in many extra-curricular activities. She especially loved to play basketball. At home on the farm, she loved being outside. Her older sister preferred to remain inside and assist her mother with the meals and other duties while Atha rode horses, milked cows, hauled straw, thinned beets and anything else she could get her father to allow her to do.
Atha had six brothers: Orville, Elwin, Fenoi, Quentin, Dale and LaVar. She had two sisters, Velda and Danette. All were anxiously waiting for her on the other side of the veil. Her baby sister, Danette, was just two when she passed away from an illness. That was something Atha never quite got over throughout the remainder of her life.
Atha graduated from high school in the spring of 1943 and met the man she would spend the rest of her life with, Herman Aikele, in August of that same year. She went to Utah State University and worked at the gunnery plant in Pocatello while Herman joined the Navy and went to the U. of Idaho and ISU as part of his military training. She found Herman to be a kind, nice, thoughtful young man and was quickly taken by his charm. They were married after the war on October 2, 1946, in the Idaho Falls Temple. To their union came five children.
Herman and Atha made their first home in a small, one room, cinderblock, luxury honeymoon cabin, in Lost River. They later built a home across the street and continued to live in this community for most of their lives. Herman and Atha farmed, ranched, and had a small dairy. In 1964 they opened Arco Feed & Fertilizer. They continued to farm and run the business for the next 25 years until answering a call to serve an 18-month mission to Wellington, New Zealand. They returned to their beloved Lost River Valleys where Atha was again blessed to greet her many friends as
she worked part time at Arco Feed.
Herm and Atha moved to St. George to find a warmer climate to enjoy retirement and spent many happy years living near daughter Andra and her husband Jim. Herman passed away in 2011. In July 2022, she moved to Layton, UT to be near her northern family. Atha served in many ward and stake church callings throughout her life. Atha and Herman especially loved serving in the Idaho Falls Temple for 20 plus years, getting up at 2:00 a.m. to be on duty when the temple opened in the morning. Atha's greatest joy was being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and loved being around her family and friends. She loved her life. She was always happy and found beauty in every sunrise and sunset.
Atha is survived by her children, Andra, Utah, Eric, Carla, Denise and Lin. 24 surviving grandchildren; 87 great-grandchildren; and 14 great-great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Herman; parents; six brothers; two sisters; one son, Kurt; grandchildren Andrew Aikele, Kris Aikele, Brett Lamont; great-grandchildren, Jordan Speirs and Nathaniel Davies.
A funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, November 4, 2023, at the Moore Idaho Stake Center, with Bishop Jake Reynolds conducting. Family will meet with friends and relatives from 11:30-12:30, prior to services at the Stake Center.
Interment will be in Lost River Cemetery under the care of the Anderson Family Funeral Home of Arco.
Atha grew up in a large family on a farm during the Great Depression. Everyone had to pitch in because farm work at the time was done by hand and horses. Her grandparents had been pioneers in the Rockford, Idaho area. There were no reservoirs, canals, ditches, roads or electricity. There was nothing but sage brush and jack rabbits. They homesteaded the land and went to work.
Atha started her education at Rockford Elementary in a multi-grade classroom which consisted of first and second grade. After finishing her first grade school work in both reading and math, she found herself looking over at the work the second graders were doing and saying, "Oh, I can do that." She would take their spelling tests and would do everything they did in addition to her own work. At the end of first grade when she went home with her report card, it said that she was promoted to the third grade.
As she advanced through school she participated in many extra-curricular activities. She especially loved to play basketball. At home on the farm, she loved being outside. Her older sister preferred to remain inside and assist her mother with the meals and other duties while Atha rode horses, milked cows, hauled straw, thinned beets and anything else she could get her father to allow her to do.
Atha had six brothers: Orville, Elwin, Fenoi, Quentin, Dale and LaVar. She had two sisters, Velda and Danette. All were anxiously waiting for her on the other side of the veil. Her baby sister, Danette, was just two when she passed away from an illness. That was something Atha never quite got over throughout the remainder of her life.
Atha graduated from high school in the spring of 1943 and met the man she would spend the rest of her life with, Herman Aikele, in August of that same year. She went to Utah State University and worked at the gunnery plant in Pocatello while Herman joined the Navy and went to the U. of Idaho and ISU as part of his military training. She found Herman to be a kind, nice, thoughtful young man and was quickly taken by his charm. They were married after the war on October 2, 1946, in the Idaho Falls Temple. To their union came five children.
Herman and Atha made their first home in a small, one room, cinderblock, luxury honeymoon cabin, in Lost River. They later built a home across the street and continued to live in this community for most of their lives. Herman and Atha farmed, ranched, and had a small dairy. In 1964 they opened Arco Feed & Fertilizer. They continued to farm and run the business for the next 25 years until answering a call to serve an 18-month mission to Wellington, New Zealand. They returned to their beloved Lost River Valleys where Atha was again blessed to greet her many friends as
she worked part time at Arco Feed.
Herm and Atha moved to St. George to find a warmer climate to enjoy retirement and spent many happy years living near daughter Andra and her husband Jim. Herman passed away in 2011. In July 2022, she moved to Layton, UT to be near her northern family. Atha served in many ward and stake church callings throughout her life. Atha and Herman especially loved serving in the Idaho Falls Temple for 20 plus years, getting up at 2:00 a.m. to be on duty when the temple opened in the morning. Atha's greatest joy was being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and loved being around her family and friends. She loved her life. She was always happy and found beauty in every sunrise and sunset.
Atha is survived by her children, Andra, Utah, Eric, Carla, Denise and Lin. 24 surviving grandchildren; 87 great-grandchildren; and 14 great-great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Herman; parents; six brothers; two sisters; one son, Kurt; grandchildren Andrew Aikele, Kris Aikele, Brett Lamont; great-grandchildren, Jordan Speirs and Nathaniel Davies.
A funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, November 4, 2023, at the Moore Idaho Stake Center, with Bishop Jake Reynolds conducting. Family will meet with friends and relatives from 11:30-12:30, prior to services at the Stake Center.
Interment will be in Lost River Cemetery under the care of the Anderson Family Funeral Home of Arco.
Atha Pearl Murdock Aikele was born on March 16, 1926. She once remarked about her birth, "I cannot remember it, but it must have been a cold, windy and kind of nasty day when I was programmed to come to this earth in March. It was historic for me because I had been blessed to be born in a good community, Thomas, Idaho, to Daniel Lewis Murdock and Annie Pearl Jones." She passed away peacefully surrounded by family in Layton, Utah at the Fairfield Village Senior Living Center, where she had been living for the past 15 months.
Atha grew up in a large family on a farm during the Great Depression. Everyone had to pitch in because farm work at the time was done by hand and horses. Her grandparents had been pioneers in the Rockford, Idaho area. There were no reservoirs, canals, ditches, roads or electricity. There was nothing but sage brush and jack rabbits. They homesteaded the land and went to work.
Atha started her education at Rockford Elementary in a multi-grade classroom which consisted of first and second grade. After finishing her first grade school work in both reading and math, she found herself looking over at the work the second graders were doing and saying, "Oh, I can do that." She would take their spelling tests and would do everything they did in addition to her own work. At the end of first grade when she went home with her report card, it said that she was promoted to the third grade.
As she advanced through school she participated in many extra-curricular activities. She especially loved to play basketball. At home on the farm, she loved being outside. Her older sister preferred to remain inside and assist her mother with the meals and other duties while Atha rode horses, milked cows, hauled straw, thinned beets and anything else she could get her father to allow her to do.
Atha had six brothers: Orville, Elwin, Fenoi, Quentin, Dale and LaVar. She had two sisters, Velda and Danette. All were anxiously waiting for her on the other side of the veil. Her baby sister, Danette, was just two when she passed away from an illness. That was something Atha never quite got over throughout the remainder of her life.
Atha graduated from high school in the spring of 1943 and met the man she would spend the rest of her life with, Herman Aikele, in August of that same year. She went to Utah State University and worked at the gunnery plant in Pocatello while Herman joined the Navy and went to the U. of Idaho and ISU as part of his military training. She found Herman to be a kind, nice, thoughtful young man and was quickly taken by his charm. They were married after the war on October 2, 1946, in the Idaho Falls Temple. To their union came five children.
Herman and Atha made their first home in a small, one room, cinderblock, luxury honeymoon cabin, in Lost River. They later built a home across the street and continued to live in this community for most of their lives. Herman and Atha farmed, ranched, and had a small dairy. In 1964 they opened Arco Feed & Fertilizer. They continued to farm and run the business for the next 25 years until answering a call to serve an 18-month mission to Wellington, New Zealand. They returned to their beloved Lost River Valleys where Atha was again blessed to greet her many friends as
she worked part time at Arco Feed.
Herm and Atha moved to St. George to find a warmer climate to enjoy retirement and spent many happy years living near daughter Andra and her husband Jim. Herman passed away in 2011. In July 2022, she moved to Layton, UT to be near her northern family. Atha served in many ward and stake church callings throughout her life. Atha and Herman especially loved serving in the Idaho Falls Temple for 20 plus years, getting up at 2:00 a.m. to be on duty when the temple opened in the morning. Atha's greatest joy was being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and loved being around her family and friends. She loved her life. She was always happy and found beauty in every sunrise and sunset.
Atha is survived by her children, Andra, Utah, Eric, Carla, Denise and Lin. 24 surviving grandchildren; 87 great-grandchildren; and 14 great-great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Herman; parents; six brothers; two sisters; one son, Kurt; grandchildren Andrew Aikele, Kris Aikele, Brett Lamont; great-grandchildren, Jordan Speirs and Nathaniel Davies.
A funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, November 4, 2023, at the Moore Idaho Stake Center, with Bishop Jake Reynolds conducting. Family will meet with friends and relatives from 11:30-12:30, prior to services at the Stake Center.
Interment will be in Lost River Cemetery under the care of the Anderson Family Funeral Home of Arco.
Atha grew up in a large family on a farm during the Great Depression. Everyone had to pitch in because farm work at the time was done by hand and horses. Her grandparents had been pioneers in the Rockford, Idaho area. There were no reservoirs, canals, ditches, roads or electricity. There was nothing but sage brush and jack rabbits. They homesteaded the land and went to work.
Atha started her education at Rockford Elementary in a multi-grade classroom which consisted of first and second grade. After finishing her first grade school work in both reading and math, she found herself looking over at the work the second graders were doing and saying, "Oh, I can do that." She would take their spelling tests and would do everything they did in addition to her own work. At the end of first grade when she went home with her report card, it said that she was promoted to the third grade.
As she advanced through school she participated in many extra-curricular activities. She especially loved to play basketball. At home on the farm, she loved being outside. Her older sister preferred to remain inside and assist her mother with the meals and other duties while Atha rode horses, milked cows, hauled straw, thinned beets and anything else she could get her father to allow her to do.
Atha had six brothers: Orville, Elwin, Fenoi, Quentin, Dale and LaVar. She had two sisters, Velda and Danette. All were anxiously waiting for her on the other side of the veil. Her baby sister, Danette, was just two when she passed away from an illness. That was something Atha never quite got over throughout the remainder of her life.
Atha graduated from high school in the spring of 1943 and met the man she would spend the rest of her life with, Herman Aikele, in August of that same year. She went to Utah State University and worked at the gunnery plant in Pocatello while Herman joined the Navy and went to the U. of Idaho and ISU as part of his military training. She found Herman to be a kind, nice, thoughtful young man and was quickly taken by his charm. They were married after the war on October 2, 1946, in the Idaho Falls Temple. To their union came five children.
Herman and Atha made their first home in a small, one room, cinderblock, luxury honeymoon cabin, in Lost River. They later built a home across the street and continued to live in this community for most of their lives. Herman and Atha farmed, ranched, and had a small dairy. In 1964 they opened Arco Feed & Fertilizer. They continued to farm and run the business for the next 25 years until answering a call to serve an 18-month mission to Wellington, New Zealand. They returned to their beloved Lost River Valleys where Atha was again blessed to greet her many friends as
she worked part time at Arco Feed.
Herm and Atha moved to St. George to find a warmer climate to enjoy retirement and spent many happy years living near daughter Andra and her husband Jim. Herman passed away in 2011. In July 2022, she moved to Layton, UT to be near her northern family. Atha served in many ward and stake church callings throughout her life. Atha and Herman especially loved serving in the Idaho Falls Temple for 20 plus years, getting up at 2:00 a.m. to be on duty when the temple opened in the morning. Atha's greatest joy was being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and loved being around her family and friends. She loved her life. She was always happy and found beauty in every sunrise and sunset.
Atha is survived by her children, Andra, Utah, Eric, Carla, Denise and Lin. 24 surviving grandchildren; 87 great-grandchildren; and 14 great-great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Herman; parents; six brothers; two sisters; one son, Kurt; grandchildren Andrew Aikele, Kris Aikele, Brett Lamont; great-grandchildren, Jordan Speirs and Nathaniel Davies.
A funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, November 4, 2023, at the Moore Idaho Stake Center, with Bishop Jake Reynolds conducting. Family will meet with friends and relatives from 11:30-12:30, prior to services at the Stake Center.
Interment will be in Lost River Cemetery under the care of the Anderson Family Funeral Home of Arco.
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