Wilma Boltz: A Woman of Legacy

Wilma Jean Anderson Boltz

Wilma Jean Andersen Boltz was born January 1, 1925 to Seren David Andersen and Artemissia Hall in Annis, Idaho. She died on July 12, 2014 in Bountiful, Utah, surrounded by family members. She was always a first: born on the first day of the year, first daughter, and first granddaughter on the Hall side.

She was one of the top students at Midway High School where she graduated. After graduation, she went to Bakersfield, California, with her friends to work during World War II because they made $1.00 per hour instead of 60 cents an hour in Idaho for doing the same work. She talked about how they had to sacrifice for the war effort by rationing nylons, sugar, and other commodities.

After some time, she returned to Idaho Falls, Idaho, where she met her future husband Luke John Boltz. They eloped to Elko, Nevada, and were married on February 2, 1947. From that marriage came four children: Lou Jean Hales (Lonnie), Hinckley, Utah; Kevin Boltz (Helen), Mesa, Arizona; Joanne Hammon (Darrel), Springville, Utah; and John Boltz (LaWane), Bountiful, Utah. She had 17 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren. They lived Idaho Falls, Idaho, mostly on 620 9^th Street, a home they built together. Luke died suddenly just before Christmas 1979 and left her a widow, and she never remarried.

She was a homemaker for twenty years before she returned to work. She began working at a dry cleaner and retired as a unit clerk at Intermountain Healthcare in Idaho Falls. While she was working, she had her hip replaced. She didn’t learn to drive until Lou Jean, her chauffeur, went off to college. With her license in hand, she wondered how she ever let her children drive her around.

Wilma was multi-talented. While the girls were growing up, she made all of their clothes. Plus, she loved to crochet, write stories, do genealogy, do counted cross-stitch and crafts, and oil paint. Once she purchased her first computer, she became a computer whiz, wowing her grandchildren by being on Facebook, sharing pictures, sending emails to her grandchildren, and doing genealogy. She even bought a second computer because her first one wore out and she wanted a faster one with a bigger screen.

Wilma was active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the time of her death. She served as a visiting teacher, primary secretary, and Cub Scout leader. Once she retired, she served several missions in the Family History Center in Idaho Falls. She also served in the Youth Center in the Idaho Falls Temple.

She lived for some time with Kevin and Helen, five years with Joanne and Darrel, periodic stints with Lou Jean and Lonnie, and the last three years with John and LaWane. She had incredible friendships with all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, truly a blessing in her life.

Her parents, her husband, all three brothers—David, Hugh, and Demar Andersen—preceded her in death.

Funeral services will be held in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints North Canyon 7^th Ward, 3350 S. 100 E. in Bountiful on Thursday, July 17, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. A viewing will be held prior to the services, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. A graveside service will be held on Friday, July 18, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. at the Annis-Little Butte Cemetery in Annis, Idaho, where she will be interred.

Funeral arrangements will be under the joint direction of Eckersell Funeral Home, Rigby, Idaho; and Russon Brothers, Bountiful, Utah. 

The family would like to thank Dignity Home Health, especially Jenna and Liz, for their excellent care of Wilma.