"So I am writing that you might know that I am thinking of you today and that I prize this anniversary as that of a day which permitted to the earth one of God's noble spirits and one whose mortal life is a mark of good in the earth.
Laura, I believe that I have been close enough to your heart to know your true meaning in life and I am forced to say daily within my heart that a girl more pure and better than you never lived."

These beautiful words were written to Emma Laura Hill on her 22nd birthday, June 24, 1919, by her future husband, William Austin Ransom, and described so well the kind of person she was.

Emma Laura was born June 24, 1897, at Tilden, Bingham County, Idaho. She was the third child and only daughter of David Hill and Emma Flora Wheeler. She has often said how she enjoyed her seven brothers, and how well she was treated by them. Her Grandmother Wheeler was a professional midwife, and took care of Laura and her mother when she was born.

When she was quite small her parents moved to a place called Rudy, just out of Rigby, Idaho, on a rented farm. They later moved to Pocatello, Idaho, where her father worked for the railroad. Laura started to school there, and was quick to learn to read. She would read the books brought home by her older brothers. This love for reading good books remained with her throughout her life.

The family then moved to Blackfoot, and she attended the second grade there. There lived in what was called the Younie Addition in the West section of town. Laura graduated from the eighth grade at the Irving School at Blackfoot.

The family attended church regularly. When Laura was a baby, her parents had taken Earl, George, and her and traveled to Logan, Utah, from Tilden, Idaho in a covered wagon to go to the Temple, and had the family sealed for time and eternity.

She recalled that, while living in Blackfoot, her father would take them to Sunday School, then in the afternoon the children would often play with their friends, because in those days the children were not usually taken to Sacrament Meeting. Her parents sometimes took her along to care for Elmer, who was the baby at that time. Clarence was born while they were living there. After his birth her mother was quite ill, so Laura had lots of responsibilities, especially watching the babies out of the ditch.

She was baptized on June 25, 1905, in the Blackfoot River by James Glenn and confirmed on the banks of the river by her father.

When she was about ten, the family moved to Wapello on a rented farm and would move back to Blackfoot in the winter. For a while her family rented different farms around, and one year they lived on a farm down between the rivers in the Riverton area. They then moved back to Wapello, where her father homesteaded a little place, and she lived there until she was married.

In 1919 she was voted queen of a bazaar at Wapello, and her children feel fortunate to have a picture of that occasion. Later that same year, on October 2, she and Will were married in the Salt Lake Temple. She had met him while she was visiting her Aunt Annie Ames at Treasureton, Idaho.

The first winter of their married life was spent with Will's parents, and the following summer they moved to Blackfoot. Their two oldest children, Wendell Hill and Elma were born here. They then moved to Pocatello, where Will had got work, and met Joe Grover. He had a little garage in Springville, Utah, and needed a mechanic, so he wanted Will to go down and go in partnership with him, so they moved there. They lived there for a year, where Laurel was born, then back to Salt Lake City, where Willa, Donna, and James Ronald were born.

The depression of the '30's hit and Will lost his job, so he went back to Idaho to work. Laurel had been real sick that year with Rheumatic Fever, and they were afraid they would lose her, but through faith and prayer and lots of loving care, they were able to save her.

Laura's mother passed away in 1931. Will was working on a dry farm and did not get the message until after the funeral. Her father was very lonesome and wanted them to stay with him. Merlin was still at home, and Earl, whose wife had passed away, and his small daughter, Elvina, were there too. Laura helped care for them until her father and Earl remarried in 1934. While they were living there Ema Vee was born.

Will and Laura and family then moved to Blackfoot, where they lived for two years, then rented a farm on the reservation south of Blackfoot and moved there.

Some of the sadder memories of this time were when she was very ill with appendicitis and had to have surgery, her son Jim getting the smallpox and Will becoming so sick from the vaccination that they were unable to attend the funeral of his mother, who passed away on Christmas Eve in 1938. Her father, David Hill, passed away on May 31, 1941.

Also Ema Vee and James Ronald had rheumatic fever at the same time and had to have special care for several months.

She also had some pleasant memories of living here. People were very close to each other, and ver willing to help their neighbors. While she was teaching a Sunday School class of young people, she directed a play entitled "The Old Maids' Convention", in which all of the young people participated in. This was a humorous play and made quite a hit with everyone in the Riverton Ward.

Another happy event was the birth of William Leon on December 18, 1941. He was welcomed and enjoyed by the whole family. Her first grandchild, Kent Wilkinson, was born on July 3, 1944.

Laura worked hard to help on the farm and care for her family. She was a very compassionate person and was always one of the first to offer help where it was needed. At one time she took care of seven neighbor children while their mother was ill. They got chicken pox while she had them, along with her own seven children in their three-room house. She never complained, no matter how difficult things became.

In 1945 the family moved to Springfield, Idaho, where they lived for two years, then to Aberdeen, then to Sterling, where they lived the next five years. While they were living in Sterling, Will's brother, Jim, who had been staying with them for some time, had a stroke and was bedridden at their home for two months before he passed away in 1950.

While they were living in Aberdeen, a grandson, Larry Hawker, was born at their home on February 7, 1949, during a blizzard that blocked all the roads.

In 1954, because Will's health was failing, they moved to Pocatello, where Laura worked as a nurse's aid at the St. Anthony Hospital, then at different rest homes for the next few years. Her love and compassion made her a favorite with the elderly people she cared for.

When Will became sick, Laura quit working to care for him. He had poor health for several years, and in the spring of 1967 he suffered a stroke and was hospitalized. Laura and the girls stayed with him constantly while he was in the hospital. He had a great desire to return home, so she took him home, and, with the help of the family, cared for him until his death on July 5, 1967.

Laura was very lonely after Will's death and stayed with her children, finally making her home with Laurel and Ren and family, and went to work at the Deseret Industries in Pocatello.

In March, 1972, she went to Ogden, Utah, to live with and care for her brother, Elmer, who had lost his wife. His home was only a couple of blocks from the Ogden Temple, and, for the first few months they were able to attend the Temple quite often. Later, because of health problems, they were confined close to home, and it was a lonely time. She was very grateful for the love and consideration shown to her by her grand-daughters, Jean Nicholls and Jodine Pogge and their families, who were living in Ogden, and all the others who would come to visit whenever they could.

Her health continued to fail, and it became necessary for her to return to Pocatello, again making her home with Laurel, Ren and family, until her death on April 17, 1974. She was buried beside her husband in the Groveland Cemetery near Blackfoot, Idaho.

Laura had held various church positions throughout the years, mostly secretarial. She had also taught in Sunday School and Primary, and was a Relief Society visiting teacher for many years. She also taught the Theology lessons on the life of the Apostle Paul, and worked in different genealogy assignments.

She enjoyed reading, sewing, and doing handwork of all kinds. She made many quilts and crocheted and knitted articles. Most of her grandchildren had received a quilt made especially for him or her.

At the time of her death she had thirty grandchildren and twenty-three great-grandchildren. She always remembered them, each one, with a small gift, most often handmade, on each birthday and Christmas, and tried to always be there for any special event in their lives.

Yes, Laura was indeed "one of God's noble spirits and one whose mortal life was a mark of good in the earth".

I was born June 24, 1897 in a little settlement called Tilden in Bingham Co. Idaho. My father is David Hill, the son of Aaron Hill and Susannah Tonks, who migrated from England. My mother, Emma Flora Wheeler was the daughter of Levi Lincoln Wheeler and Ellen Lavender

My father and mother were married in Logan, Utah, and had moved to Idaho when they had one child and taken a homestead in this new country. I was the third child and only daughter in a family of eight children, having two brothers older and five younger than I was. When I was about three years old my parents moved on to a rented farm at Rudy, Idaho, a settlement not far from Rigby. He farmed this place a few years, then moved to Pocatello, Idaho, where he worked for the railroad co. I started to school in Pocatello, but only finished the first grade there, then the family moved to Blackfoot where my father bought ten acres of land west of town in what was called the Younie addition. We lived in a tent the first summer and by fall father had one room built, so we lived in it and slept in the tent until he could finish the house, which when completed had three rooms.

He worked for wages and some years rented farm land out of town. Some years he contracted the hand work in beet fields so we children early learned to thin and hoe beets. I attended the Blackfoot schools and graduated from the 8th grade at Irving School there at the age of fourteen. That year my father rented a farm at Wapello so we moved out there and later he homesteaded again forty acres near Wapello, so we made our home there where I lived until I was married Oct 2, 1919. During the time I lived there I was secretary for a number of years in the Sunday School and also in the YWMIA. I took part in the Beehive work and also worked in the Primary organization, most of the time as teacher and for a few months as counselor to the president.

Prelude: Martha Ransom Sharp

Bishop Karl Loveland, Pocatello, Id. 7th Ward (Tyhee):

Family, friends and loved ones, we have met this day to pay our respects to one who has been called back to our Father in Heaven's presence, Emma Laura Hill Ransom. On behalf of the family, we express to you our appreciation for being here this day and for the many acts of kindness and the beautiful floral offerings, and for the love which you have shown to the family, and which you will show in the next few days. The program will go as outlined in the folder.

Opening Prayer: Adrian Tilley

Our Father which art in Heaven. We'd like to ask a special blessing on the people that are going to talk today that they may be able to say what is in their hearts. We'd like to ask a very special blessing on the family and relatives that they will be able to remember their loved one and remember the good times that they had. We'd like to do this in the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen

Song: "In The Garden", Pocatello 7th Ward Singing Mothers
Accompanied by Ileen McMinn

Life Sketch: Jean Worthen Nicholls

'The door that leads to a grandmothers heart
Is always open wide,
And in her heart is a special place
Where peace and love abide.
There is no lock on a grandmother's heart,
For her grandchildren freely go
For a pat on the cheek or a comforting word
Or something they want to know.
Through years of work and prayer she's learned
Her wise and tender art.
For very near to the love of God
Is the love of a grandmother's heart.

My grandmother, Emma Laura Hill Ransom, was born June 24, 1897, at Tilden, Idaho, now known as Sterling. She was the third child and only daughter of David Hill and Emma Flora Wheeler. Their home was a dugout. A room dug in the side of a bank was used for a bedroom and another room which was built on was used for cooking and living. Grandmother told us about her mother telling her that one of the General Authorities came from Salt Lake and spent the night with them. She asked her mother if she wasn't embarrassed to have them stay in that kind of a home, but she said it was about as good as any of the others at the time.

Grandma was baptized on June 25, 1905, in the Blackfoot River, by James Glenn and confirmed on the banks of the river by her father.

She graduated from the eighth grade at the Irving School in Blackfoot

While visiting her aunt in Treasureton, Idaho, she met William Austin Ransom, and was married October 2, 1919, in the Salt Lake Temple. After marrying, they lived in Blackfoot, where a son and a daughter were born.

They then moved to Springville, Utah, where Grandpa operated a garage, and one more daughter was born. After about two years they moved to Salt Lake, where two daughters and a son were added to their family. While living in Salt Lake, Grandpa was service representative for Case Implement Co., and because of this was out of town most of the summer, which left the care of the children to their mother.

During the time they lived in Salt Lake the depression of the 30's hit, and Grandpa lost his job. Laurel had been real sick that year with rheumatic fever, and they were afraid that they would lose her, but through faith and prayer and lots of loving care were able to save her. When Grandpa went to Idaho he wanted Grandma to take the children and stay with his mother. She stayed there till her mother passed away. At that time she came to Blackfoot to stay with her father, and took care of him, a brother and his daughter, and a younger brother. At this time another daughter was born.

After Grandma's father remarried, they rented a farm on the reservation, and lived there for about nine years. While living here they were blessed with another baby son. During this time Grandma was active in the Riverton Ward. She taught several classes in the various organizations.

From the reservation they moved to Springfield-Aberdeen area, where they lived for about nine years. During this time another daughter and son had rheumatic fever.

In 1954 they moved to Pocatello because Grandpa's health was failing and he could not work anymore. Grandma worked at the St. Anthony Hospital and different rest homes as a nurse's aid. When Grandpa got sick, Grandma quit working and took care of him until his death on July 5, 1967.

Grandma made her home with her daughter Laurel and worked at the Deseret Industries. In March of 1972 she moved to Ogden to care for her brother Elmer. While living in Ogden she was able to go to the Ogden Temple whenever she wanted to.

In the summer of 1973 Grandma's health started failing, and by fall she was forced to return to Pocatello, again making her home with Laurel. She passed away April 17, 1974, in Pocatello, Idaho.

She is survived by five daughters and three sons: Elma Worthen, Laurel Wilkinson, Willa Roberts, Donna Hawker, Ema Vee Hathaway, Wendell, James and Leon Ransom. She also has thirty grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren, all of who loved her dearly.

Grandma had a special talent of knowing just what to do to make her grandchildren happy. One of the special things that she did I remember will is she never missed a birthday, a graduation, a wedding, or a Christmas without giving a small gift to all her family. A lot of them she made herself. She enjoyed making quilts and made many of them for her children and grandchildren. All of her children and grandchildren are here today except three. Two are on missions, one in Bolivia and one in Wisconsin, and one is in the service in Turkey.

In closing I would like to read one of Grandma's favorite poems:

Sunset and evening star,
And one clear call for me
And may there be no moaning at the bar
When I put out to sea.
But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home.
Twilight and evening bell.
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell
When I embark.
For tho' from out our bourne of time and place
The flood may bear me far
I hope to see my pilot face to face
When I have crossed the bar.

Alfred Lord Tennyson

Vocal Medley: Helen Ransom, accompanied by Martha Ransom Sharp

I am a child of God, and He has sent me here,
Has given me an earthly home
With parents kind and dear.
Lead me, guide me, walk be side me
Help me find the way.
Teach me all that I must do
To live with Him someday.

Whenever I hear the sound of a bird,
Or look at the blue, blue sky.
Whenever I feel the rain on my face,
Or the wind as it rushes by.
Whenever I touch a velvet rose,
Or walk by our lilac tree,
I'm glad that I live in this beautiful world
Heavenly Father created for me.

He gave me my eyes that I might see
The color of butterfly wings,
He gave me my ears that I might hear
The magical sound of things.
He gave me my life, my mind, my heart.
I thank Him reverently
For all His creations of which I'm a part.
Yes, I know Heavenly Father loves me.

Teach me to walk in the light of His love.
Teach me to pray to my Father above.
Help me to know of the things that are right.
Teach me, teach me to walk in the light.

Come, little child, and together we'll learn
Of His commandments, that we may return
Home to His presence, to live in His sight.
Always, always to walk in the light.

I am a child of God, and so my needs are great.
Help me to understand His words
Before it grows too late.
Lead me, guide me, walk beside me.
Help me find the way.
Teach me all that I must do
To live with Him some day.

I am a child of God. Rich blessings are in store.
If I but learn to do His will, I'll live with Him once more.
Lead me, guide me, walk beside me.
Help me find the way.
Teach me all that I must do
To live with Him some day.

Speaker: Dean Hill

My dear brothers and sisters, this is a very humbling experience and I'm very, very privileged to have the opportunity to be asked to pay tribute to the life of Aunt Laura. She has always been an inspiration and a guide to all of us in the family. And I feel like Helen felt when she got up to sing. I think that this little show of emotion speaks more than what probably any of us could say in tribute to Aunt Laura. Helen has been a member of the family for just a very few short years. She is probably the newest member of the family, and yet to see how she feels about her mother-in-law. I think it shows how all of us feel about Aunt Laura.

I think that it's probably altogether fitting and proper that we feel a certain amount of grief and remorse at the loss to us in our lives of Aunt Laura, to somebody who has meant so much to us as she has. And I think it's proper that we shed a few tears at a time like this, when re realize that she isn't going to be around for us to associate with and talk with.

But in a larger sense, today is not a time of sorrow. Today is a time of rejoicing. It's a time to feel glad because my Aunt Laura, your mother, has merely graduated from this sphere of existence with honor, to go on to her eternal reward. And those of us who know her well know that she's going to have a great reward. We know that this graduation ---my daughter graduated from BYU yesterday, and I went down to that ceremony, and I couldn't help but think and compare this today with that, of Aunt Laura with my daughter. Laura has lived a good life. She's fought a good fight. She's obeyed all the commandments. She's been a very faithful and devoted daughter, mother, wife, and friend to all of us. And I'm sure that you, as well as I, fell that this really is to her a graduation ceremony.

My mother was talking with Laura just a short while back. She wasn't feeling well, and she was telling my mother how she was rather anxious to pass on from this life, and I guess maybe some of her children couldn't understand this and were wondering why she was anxious to leave them. But as we look back over her life and realize the kind of life she has lived, and that she is now old and her body is worn out, and we realize that their father has been dead for five or six years, I can't remember, and her parents. Many, many have already died that she is anxious to meet and be with again. I think we can sort of realize how much, maybe, she has been looking forward to this event.

Death is kind of like a ship sailing out at sea. Maybe you've heard this little analogy many times. I've heard it several times and I've always thought how appropriate it is to a funeral service. I'm standing upon a seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She's an object of beauty and strength. And I stand and watch her, until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud where the sea and sky come down and mingle with each other. Then someone at my side says, 'There! She's gone.' Gone where? Gone from my sight, that is all. The ship is as large and mast and whole and spar as she was when she left my side. And just as able to bear her load of living weight to the place of destination. Her diminished size is in me, not in her. And just at that moment then someone at my side said, "There! She's gone," there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices to take up that glad shout, "There! She's coming!" And this is dying.

You children have all had the blessing of being born of a good heritage. Like Nephi in the Book of Mormon you can all say, "I, Wendell, or Elma or Laurel, Donna, Jim or Ema Vee, Leon, I, having been born of goodly parents," and go on and finish it. You have had a great blessing to be born in this family that you have. We could spend all afternoon here talking about the heritage that you have received, being born of your mother and those that preceded her, but I don't have that much information on the family that I could spend that long talking, and I don't suppose that you want to stay that long.

But I would like to reminisce with you for a minute or two. Your mother's father, my grandfather, your grandfather, David Hill, I think is probably one of the greatest men that's ever lived. I only knew him for ten short years. He died when I was only ten years old. But yet I feel closer to him probably than almost anybody. And when I hear some of the stories about him in his life it makes me proud, feel good that I was born into this family.

I've got a little story that he wrote of his life and there is just a little bit in it that I'd like to read to you. When my grandfather was just a baby his mother died, and through the course of the years he wasn't raised active in the Church, with a knowledge of God, with a testimony like we have. And this came to him some time after he was married, about four years, I suspect, when he became interested in the Church. When he became interested in the Church he became one of the stalwarts in the Church.

There is a story in his life history of how he rode 65 miles on horseback to be ordained an elder. And it says that same fall he loaded up his wife and three small children you mother being on of them, in a covered wagon and took a trip from here to Logan to be sealed in the Temple.

He says, "We traveled in a covered wagon with our three children, Earl, George, and Laura. We were a month completing the trip. But I stopped for a while and worked for my brother on a threshing machine to get enough money to come home." I think this is probably the part that kind of touches me, to realize how long it took him to make this trip, and how he made it, and what a strong testimony he must have had to load his family up and do this without money enough to make a round trip in a covered wagon, having to stop and work before he could have money enough to come home.

Many, many times in the last few years in the funeral home, I've had some of the older people here out Wapello and out Riverton around, come and ask me if I was related to David Hill. And when I told that I was, why then they told me some little story of the kindness and respect that he had for everybody. How he'd pick up their milk and take it in to the creamery, and then spend half a day in town doing their shopping for them and bringing it back out to them. And I've thought the last few days, I think he instilled this love for people into all of his children. I think every one of them have had this same characteristic. But I think probably Laura has inherited this characteristic maybe even better and maybe more so than any of the rest.

As we think about the life that she's lived, and this tribute that was paid to her by her granddaughter in the obituary, and think what we know about her personally, how she never had much of the riches of this world. In fact, most of her life, as I remember, she lived quite poorly, financially, and yet she was one of the really rich people of the world because she had such a strong testimony, because she had such a strong love for her family and such a strong love for people. Any one of us know many, many, many stories of her taking somebody to take care of because they were sick and ill.

For instance, I think she told us in the obituary about after her mother died, how she came to live with her father to take care of him and her brother, I think at the same time that she took care of another brother who was married, whose wife had died, and some of their children. I think almost all of us related to Aunt Laura have had experiences like this with our own families, where she has contributed to our care, our well-being.

Uncle Will, as far back as I can remember well, wasn't very well, and I can never remember Aunt Laura complaining about his health or taking care of him, or having to help work with him in the field to see that the family had something to eat. In fact I can never remember Aunt Laura speaking ill or bad of anyone. I remember certain times when I, myself, or others that I've been with in her company have said something a little derogatory, and I can remember this great big smile of my Aunt Laura's and she'd say, "Oh, I don't think he'd do that, would he!" And I can remember a lot of times I would be kind of ashamed or embarrassed for some of the things I'd said because of this little remark. And I'll bet every one of you can remember things like that, too.

I wonder, does Heaven give mothers
A sort of separate place,
With clothing to mend, and bruises to tend,
And tears on a very small face

And do you suppose there are minutes
In which there is much to be done
When breakfast is rushed, and curls must be brushed,
And girls sent off to school on the run?

And do you suppose there are kitchens,
With boys sneaking something to eat?
And pies, cakes, and jells, and heavenly smells,
Sought out by small pattering feet?

And will there be rugs to be walked on,
By shoes not too carefully cleaned,
And finger marks mall on woodwork and wall,
Right where they're sure to be seen?

And do you suppose there is darkness,
With small figures needing a light,
And tales to be told, and covers to fold,
And hands to be held very tight?

There must be, for how else would mothers
Find joy that is promised above?
When all of their days are spent finding ways
Of serving the children they love?

You who are members of the immediate family, sons and daughters of Aunt Laura, and grandchildren, know how much you mean to your mother. And you know that all of her thoughts were concerned with her family and their well-being. And you know how much your grandmother and your mother sacrificed for you. And you know she endeavored all of her life to teach you the things that are right. You know how she, even when she didn't have enough money for food in her home, still was able to pay her tithing. You know all these things, and you know the example she has set for you. I think the responsibility you have now, the thing that you ought to do as you leave this service today, if I could give you one challenge, it would be, "Try to live your lives so that when we finish our journey or our schoolwork here, that we will be able to be reunited with her, because you know where she's gone. And you know what you're going to have to do to achieve the same place."

There's a little verse here by William Wordsworth that I've always felt inspired by. It says:

Our birth is but a sweeping of forgetting
The soul that rises with us. Our life star
Has had elsewhere its setting
And cometh from afar.
Not in entire forgetfulness,
Not in utter nakedness,
But trailing clouds of glory do we come
From God, who is our home.

I'd like to paraphrase this little verse just a little bit today. Our death is but a sweep, and then a complete remembering. The soul that rises with us, our life star, hath had right here its setting, yet rises now afar. Trailing clouds of glory does she go to God, who is her home.

I pray that you, as you look back on the life of your mother and grandmother, and all of us who are related to her, and I suppose most of us in this room are related to her in some way or other, and we have a chapel full today. She comes from a large family and I think that's great. And I think as we reminisce about her life, if we'll just decide that we are going to accept the challenge that she left for us, that we'll live our lives so that we may again be reunited with her and with our grandfathers and with our grandmothers, those who have left before as she has now done. I pray that we may be able to do this. I do it in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

Remarks: Bishop Karl Loveland

Brothers and Sisters, I'm grateful for this opportunity. As I witnessed the proceedings of this service today, I found that I have just become acquainted with Sister Ransom. Dean's father worked for my father for several years, and I did not realize until now the close relationship that he had with Laura.

I can recall, when I was eight years old, next to my father he was probably my best friend. For he not only worked for my father, but he worked with him. Many days have I spent, and I think it reflects quickly back, to the same foundation that they both received in that home. Not concerned a whole lot about the worldly things, grateful for what they did have. I can remember more than once when Clarence was happy with a horse with a new pair of shoes on it. Much more happy than we'd be with a new twenty dollar bill. I can also recall that when he was in the presence of others, associating with them, he was always with a smile. And I think this again tells me of the relationship that they had with one another as young growing up children.

I appreciate being asked this day to offer a few remarks. It certainly speaks well of the family that all are in attendance of the posterity, except for those three, Tom, Bart, Kent. And I'm certain that they'd be here if it was possible. I don't suppose anybody here, save it be the family, know these three young men better than myself.

Sister Ransom was a wonderful mother, a dedicated person. And that's why she has this fine family. As a little poem so well says:

Who's love can equal the love of a mother
Whose devotion so loyal and true
Who suffers so much joy for another
Who serves with such pleasure as Mother for you?
We hail with delight the friendship of others,
We revel in the love of a sweetheart we've won.
But where can we find a friendship like Mother's
Unbroken, till deaths call, when life' work is done?

Yes, she was your best and dearest friend. She was loyal and true to the end. But she had prepared for this day. In fact I'm sure most of her life was preparation. She prepared for school. She prepared for marriage. She prepared for life's work. In the pre-existence she prepared for this life. And this life was preparation for the eternity. Now her spirit has gone back to God, where it enters a kind of finishing school, where, under the direction of the finest teachers, it is made ready for a glorious reunion with the body.

Just suppose that we could look beyond the boundaries of this life and see the beauties and all that remains for us there. It would probably be very difficult to remain here. Sister Ransom has been looking forward to this day with great anticipation, especially since the passing of her husband. She would not want it any other way. It would be one of our great misfortunes if we were not to die.

In pre-existence we walked by sight and we knew God. He is our Father and we lived with Him. But mortality is the period where we learn to walk a little way by faith. Sister Ransom has been faithful, and so death today for her is not the end, but the beginning of a more abundant life. We should not think of death as losing, but think of it as gaining a new life. We sometimes think of death as parting. Let us think of it rather as meeting in the eternities, where bonds will never be broken. Death is not a going away. It is a returning home. And if we hear the voice of death whispering, "You must go from this earth," let us also hear the voice of Christ saying, "You are but to come unto me."

We have enjoyed having Sister Ransom in our ward the short few months she has been there. Though her health was not the best. She was not always able to attend those meetings she would like to. It was always a pleasure and a pleasant meeting to shake her hand. I even had the opportunity on a personal basis on a couple occasions to visit with her in my office, an opportunity that comes only to a bishop, and one which I'm grateful for this day.

We have enjoyed in our ward her participating and making quilts and many other articles that she did by hand. This was one of her talents and she loved to share it with all of us.

Certainly Sister Ransom will be missed by all her family, her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, neighbors, friends. There will be lonely days. For death is an acute loss, a sorrow that softens only with time, and the memory of which can never be completely erased. And though you mourn this day, you can take comfort that at another day in the Lord's own time, place and purpose, there will be a cherished association in the plan and purpose of God, our Father, whose hands we are in here and in the hereafter.

May all of you who mourn this day take comfort, and it is my prayer that you might stay close as a family. May God bless Sister Ransom's family that they might be able to keep sacred the covenants they have made, that they might know that she is concerned about their every action and that she is worried about their best interest, is my prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

Piano and organ duet: The Holy City by Marilyn and Craig Hill

Benediction: Larry Hawker

As we come to the closing of this service, of paying our final respects to one of Thy choice daughters, we wish to thank Thee for the opportunity we have had of associating with this person and for the many things that she has taught us by her examples in life. We're thankful for the people that have been able to attend this service today and we ask Thee to bless them that as they return to their homes, we pray Thou will be with them that they may go in safety. We ask Thee to be with the family here that they may find peace and comfort in the words that have been spoken today. We pray for Thy blessings to be with us continually, and be with the family and the friends. And we say this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Casket Bearers: Grandsons:Dale Wilkinson, Mike Hathaway, Garth Ransom, Wade Roberts, Bob Wilkinson, Danny Roberts, Lee Worthen, Robin Roberts.

Family prayer by Wendell Ransom

Dedication of the grave by Leon Ransom.

1950
Jan 1st Last year was such an eventful year for our family that I am sorry we have not kept a record of events as they took place. We had four little grandchildren born in 1949. James came home from the army. Wendell went to Provo to attend school and Vee had a very serious attack of rheumatic fever and Leon had his eighth birthday.
We are starting the New Year in good health. Uncle Jim is here. Today was Sunday and Will and I being on the genealogical committee, we were responsible for the Sunday evening service at Church. The meeting was a success. Everyone we had asked to be on the program was there and gave their parts. Ema Vee played her first clarinet solo, accompanied by Orva Marie Wahlen. We had talks by the three boys who are soon leaving on missions, Duane Herbert, Winfred Jones and Rowayne Anderson. All did very well and Wendell gave a very lovely musical reading accompanied by Sister Wahlen.
After meeting we took Wendell to Blackfoot to catch a bus to Provo to school. He will meet Vilarr in Preston and go by car from there.
Willa and Frank came up with their lovely baby Wade. They will stay tonight with us. Wade is a very good baby.

Jan 2 Today is a holiday so we are still celebrating New Years. Willard and Leona, Grandma, Barbara and Wayne came to dinner. Wayne brot a friend from Grace Miss Emma Kingsford with him. They are both attending school at Rexburg so they all left early to take Wayne and Emma to school. It began to snow this afternoon and is blowing and snowing a little tonight.

Jan 3 Today was cold. We went to a funeral service for Tom Keith. It was a big funeral and a nice service. We went down to Aberdeen for Vee but she had to work late, so we didn't get home in time for Mutual, but went down to the church to see if any one was going to Idaho Falls tomorrow but no one was going. It is cold tonight.

Jan 4 Today it has been snowing and warmer. Vee wanted to go to the basket ball game Aberdeen vs McCammon.. Daddy went down to bring her home so he will go the game too. Aberdeen beat by 3 points. A very interesting game.

Jan 5 It has been a quiet nice winter day. The weather was nice all day and not too cold. Will hasn't felt well today. Vee came home on the Aberdeen bus.

Jan 6 Another nice winter day. We attended a farewell party for Winfred Jones and Duane Herbert. It was a nice party. A lot of Aberdeen people were present and a nice contribution was given for the boys. I made Leon a brown and yellow western shirt. He likes it.

Jan 8 Tonight it is snowing again. We are hoping that the roads will not be blocked. We have attended Sunday School, stake meeting and sacrament meeting today and went up to George Ransom's for a while. At Sacrament meeting Bishop Brookbush was released and Lee Anderson was sustained as Bishop with the same counselors as before.

Jan 10 With winter roads making driving bad I didn't want to drive to Relief Society meeting so Mr. Petersen took Mrs. Petersen and myself down. Vee came home as soon as we went down so we took her to Mutual. A nice group of girls were there. Vee tried out today for a part in the Junior play at school. Don't know yet whether she gets it or not.

Jan 11 It is snowing some and blowing a lot today. Mrs. Claunch and I were to go Relief Society teaching. Will was going to take us but it was drifting so bad we couldn't get thru the roads so we didn't try to go. Vee came home on the bus today.

Jan 12 Vee went to Pocatello tonight on the bus to spend a day with Willa. This evening we had a snow storm but it was soon over.

Fri 13 Today was nice until evening. The two Mrs Wadsworth called as Relief Society teachers. We enjoyed their visit. About five o'clock it started to snow and blow. The school bus got stuck and the county snow plow had to drive in head of the bus around the route. Leon was the last one off so he was after dark getting home but tho't it was fun. Vee didn't come home so she will probably come in the morning.

Sat 14 It drifted all night so the busses are not running today so Vee will have to stay over in Pocatello and another storm is said to be coming so she may be there several days.

Sun 15 We dug out the drive way today and drove to Aberdeen to attend Stake conference but found it had been postponed so we made arrangements with Orvel and Alice Wheeler for Vee to stay there in case of closed roads due to drifting. Willa and Frank came over to bring Vee home. They left Baby Wade with his grandmother so we didn't see him. Leon was real happy to find this dog Mercury had given puppies. One died later today. It is cold tonight again.

Jan 16 Today was stormy. The bus didn't come around so we took the children to Grandview to school. Vee caught the bus there in to high school. School was dismissed at 2 o'clock due to storm. Vee came home so we took her down to work and she took a suitcase of clean clothes so she could stay down with Orvel and Alice Wheeler. We really had a hard time getting to the highway without chains. Vee and I had to push several times. We came home around the highway.

Jan 17 No school for Leon today and high school was dismissed almost as soon as it opened. It snowed all day. A beautiful snow storm without wind.

Jan 18 More snow today without wind. Rained late in the evening.

Jan 19 Thawed today. A nice warm day. Roads are all open again. We went to town and got Vee home.

20 & 21 Warm weather. Snow going off and roads good

22 Sunday. We went to stake conference in Aberdeen. Had a nice conference. No visitor from Salt Lake.

Mon 22 Raining today. Will is working on the stake house at Aberdeen to work out our assessment if possible. Ren & Laurel & family were here.

Tues 23 Colder today. All the roads have turned to ice. Will working on stake house again. Vee, Will and I went to Mutual.

Wed 25 Cold today. Will working on stake house again. Uncle Jim not so well today. He has laid down most of the day.

26 Nice winter day. Will working on stake house.

27 Still working on stake house. Another nice winter day.

Sat 28 Blowing and drifting today. Will and Vee can't get to work.

Sun No church due to drifted snow.

Mon 30 Enough roads plowed out so school busses could get thru. A pleasant winter day.

Tues 31 Attended Relief Society meeting at Sister Petersens home. Five ladies were there. No mutual due to drifts.

Feb 1 A cold day

2 A clear cold day. The ground hog saw his shadow.

3 A little warmer. We went to town for Vee and saw the last part of the basket ball game. Aberdeen vs Inkom. Aberdeen beat.

4 Warmer today. Snowing in the morning turning to rain late in the afternoon. Leon was baptized today at Aberdeen by Bp. Bruce Beck. Laurel and Ren came down and took us to Aberdeen so Kenny could see Leon baptized.

5 Leon was confirmed today by his father. George and Alice came down and had dinner with us and Donna and Delton and Glen and Margie Wells came in the evening. The babies were sure cute. Donna and Delton wanted to help us get some tires. They are going to get them and let us pay them later. The kids have all been so good to help us. Uncle Jim had to miss church. His feet are so swollen he can't wear his shoes.

Feb 6 Raining most all day. Uncle Jim is some better.

Feb 7 Larry's birthday today and it is a beautiful spring like day. Quite different from last year. I attended Relief Society at the home of Anna Nelson. Daddy and Vee went to Mutual. Vee came home quite rebellious. I wish she would be a little more congenial and try to fit into the organizations.

Feb 8 A nice bright day. Spring like weather I had to miss the high school glee concert because Leon came home with a headache.

Feb 9 Leon is better. He went to school. Vee came home from work ill. Her fever is 103. I hope she isn't getting rheumatic fever again.

Feb 10 Vee still sick.

11 We took Vee to the Dr. today. He started giving christadigen again and also penicillin. Uncle Jim still bad. He can't breathe good lying down so is up most of the night.

Feb 12 Vee is still sick. She has such a bad cough. Still running a fever.

13 Vee still has such a bad cough. Fever normal at noon, 102 at night

Feb 14 Valentine Day. We made heart shape cookies with white frosting and Leon decorated them with Daddy to help. We made one for all the little grandchildren. Daddy to care of Vee while I went to Relief Society at Ethel Herberts. 16 ladies were there. Vee's fever 102º tonight. Vee's cough some better.

Feb 17 Leon was vaccinated for smallpox and dyptheria

Feb 18 Vee is better. Her fever has been down to normal all day. J Ronald cam home from Boise where he went Thursday to report to Reserve officer and visit Merlin Hill. He found Merlin's family all O.K.

Feb 19 Sunday. Vee is better. She sat up and ate dinner with the family. Sunday evening Will and I went to church. J Ronald stayed at home with Vee, Leon and Uncle Jim. Uncle Jim's feet are so swollen he can't wear his shoes. He is taking shots twice a week.

Feb 20 Washed today. Vee is better was up some today. James went to Pocatello to see Willa and look for work.

Feb 21 I attended Relief Society meeting at Sister Barclay's home. Will took Uncle Jim to the doctor and Vee went for a checkup too. She worked a couple of hours. Doctor says Uncle Jim isn't getting along too good.

Feb 22 A nice day. Vee working again.

23 A nice spring like day. I rode to Aberdeen with Will to take Vee to work. When he went for her he discovered the car leaking oil. Hope it isn't anything serious.

Feb 24 We were very much surprised to have Earl and Dora come down today with Ren and Laurel. It was Earl's birthday so we made a cake and cooked a nice dinner. J Ronald was with them.

Feb 25 Today we were saddened by the very serious illness of our neighbor Monte Petersen. Will got Frank Herbert at Mrs. Petersen's request and they administered to him then took him to the hospital at American Falls. Vee went to the game at American Falls and came home quite mad because Aberdeen was beaten by McCammon.

Mar 25 A long time since I have written in this book. I have been so busy. I took care of the Stone children 8 days while their mother was away. Monte Petersen died and we attended his funeral March 10. Will gave the opening prayer and I helped with the flowers. Yesterday Mr. Chandler another neighbor died so we called there.

Leon had his second shot for diphtheria on March 17. Today Uncle Jim had another shot. The Dr says he is much better.

March 27 Uncle Jim had a bad attack early this morning. Didn't know anything. We called the Dr to give him a sedation. Also Bill Brookbush & Frank Herbert. He is sleeping now under sedative. Vee called Tom Ransom to come up. Hope he gets here before too long. Vee is staying home to help and Leon has such a bad cough we are keeping him home.

August 2 So much has happened. J Ronald went back into the service late in February and was sent to California, then to Georgia, then to New Jersey and over to Germany without coming home. He is at Fuesen Germany and writes quite happy letters. Seem to be enjoying his work.

Uncle Jim was so very ill for two months and finally died May 17. People were very good to us during his illness. We went to Preston and made arrangements for his funeral service to be at Cleveland Idaho, his old home ward. It was a nice service.

Violet, Agnes and Verna each came and helped a week during his illness We were all very much worn out from lack of sleep. It seemed good to have him resting.

Wendell bro't his girl up for a week end the first Sunday in May. We think she is very nice.

Wendell is home for the summer working for the A.A.A. again. He plans to be married in October.

We went fishing July 4 with Ren & Laurel and family. Seen the Craters of the Moon.

Vee went to Payette Lakes with the band July 18. They returned to Aberdeen the 22 but Vee stayed over two days with Merlin & Ruth and came home the 24th by bus.

Will is working for the county on the roads again.

It is sure hot now here. We had dinner at Donna's the 30th honoring Laurel on her birthday. We all had a nice time. Rode up in the hills to see if the huckleberries were ripe but found very few.

We miss Uncle Jim. It seems like he should be coming to see us.

This is the end of the diary.