Grandpa's Funeral

A Bittersweet Farewell

Yesterday morning we had the funeral for my grandpa. It was beautiful, and there was a really good turnout. The chapel was almost full. When we sung the opening and closing hymns, I felt like I'd never heard a congregation sing so loudly and nicely before. Following the service at the church, we drove to the cemetery where my grandpa will be buried next to his sweetheart, my grandma. I thought I would share a photo of the headstone and then share my grandma's obituary.

Herald Journal, The (Logan, UT) - May 17, 2002

Deceased Name: Jeanette Pulley Andersen PROVIDENCE, Utah Jeanette Pulley Andersen, 69, beloved mother, devoted wife and constant friend passed away May 15, 2002, following a courageous struggle with cancer.

She was born January 24, 1933, in Logan to Fonda Rigby and Orion Sylvester Pulley. She was the oldest of 10 children.

Jeanette was raised in Logan, attended Utah State University and graduated with a degree in elementary education. She served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the eastern states mission. Upon her return, she taught school in Farmington. She met her future husband, Derrell Milo Andersen, at a dance in Salt Lake City. They were married for time and all eternity in the Logan LDS Temple on June 14, 1963. They later moved to Grover, Wyo., where they spent 35 happy years raising five daughters.

Jeanette taught first grade in the Lincoln County School District for 18 years, proving many times over to be an outstanding teacher. She retired in 1998. In the spring of 1999, Jeanette and Derrell moved to the sunshine and blossoms of Providence, where many warm and friendly people welcomed and loved them, making this town truly home.

Jeanette served in every auxiliary of the church, holding various positions. At the onset of her illness, she was Primary president, a calling she loved dearly.

Jeanette will always be remembered for her ever present positive attitude and cheerful smile, her willingness to do whatever was asked of her and her life of selfless service. She possessed an extraordinary gift for writing which was recognized statewide. She made everything beautiful, from the music she played to the paintings she created; from her lovely flower gardens to her delicious home cooked meals; from the classrooms of school to those of life. She made a positive difference in the lives of all she came in contact with. This rare soul will be missed by those who know and love her.

She is survived by her husband, Derrell; daughters, Tonya Andersen, DeEtte Andersen, Janell (Lyle) Johnson, Beth Andersen and Deenna (Scott) Tolentino; seven grandchildren; her mother, Fonda; brothers and sisters, Arden (Carole), Melvin, Harvey (Dixie), Karl (Virginia), Steven (Cynthia), Adrynne (Walton) Muir and Camille (Mark) Crookston. She is preceded in death by her father and two infant brothers.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 18, 2002, at 10 a.m. in the Providence 4th Ward building at 100 N. 100 East in Providence, with Bishop Blaine Fuhriman conducting. A viewing will be held Friday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 E. Center, Logan and at the church on Saturday from 9 to 9:45 a.m. Interment will be in the Providence Cemetery under the direction of Allen-Hall Mortuary.

Herald Journal, The (Logan, UT) Date: May 17, 2002 Record Number: 779743 Copyright, 2002, Cache Valley Publishing LLC

Grandpa's Obituary

Derrell Milo Andersen (1926 - 2013)

PROVIDENCE -March 20, 2013, Derrell Milo Andersen, 86, returned to his Heavenly Father after saying goodbye for the last time to his loving family here on earth.

The youngest of four children, Derrell was born April 2, 1926, to Milo and Catherine Collings Andersen in Fairview, Wyo.

Derrell was a hard worker who also enjoyed nature by horseback in the mountains above the family's homestead in Grover, Wyo.

After graduating high school, Derrell served an LDS mission in Denmark. Several years after his return, he moved to SLC. It was during this time that he attended a church dance where, as he was about to quietly exit the building unnoticed, he met and fell in love with a beautiful red-head, Jeanette Pulley, who became his eternal companion on June 14, 1963, in the Logan LDS temple.

They returned to Grover where five daughters were blessed to join their union. It was often commented by others that the Andersen home was a place of refuge where anyone was welcome: the hungry, the lost, the outcast, and strangers alike. When they sold their home and moved to Providence, Utah, in 1999, the new owners in Grover said they would never sell that house because the walls seemed to ooze love.

Derrell was a jack of all trades: ranching, farming, logging, postal worker, tax consultant, engine repair and much more; he taught everything he could to his daughters. But the greatest thing he taught his family was to love their neighbor more than themselves. It didn't matter who the person was or what they believed, he reached out to them.

To the very end, Derrell immersed himself in serving the Lord to the best of his ability. Even with oxygen and a walker in tow, he could be found at the temple, family history center, or doing service projects within his limited ability. 

Derrell is survived by his daughters: Tonya (Victor) Fraga, Houston, Texas; DeEtte (Eric) Voellger, Bonney Lake, Wash.; Janell (Lyle) Johnson, Logan, Utah; Beth Andersen, Providence, Utah; Deenna (Scott) Tolentino, Garden City, Utah; and 13 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Jeanette, two sisters (Baby Laura Andersen and Mae Hardy), brother (Merle), and his parents.

A viewing will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, March 24, 2013 at Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 E Center St, in Logan, UT. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday, March 25, 2013, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 420 W. 100 North in Providence, Utah. A viewing will precede the funeral from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at that church. Condolences and memories may be shared online at www.allenmortuaries.net.

Written by my mother, Janell.

Published in Logan Herald Journal from March 23 to March 25, 2013

Copied from the website here. 

My Grandpa

My Grandpa

For your enjoyment, here is my favorite photo of me with my grandpa. This was taken at my little sister's wedding that took place just over two years ago.

He is my mother's father. My grandmother passed away in the year 2002. Since then, he has lived in a house about 15 minutes away from my family's home. A few years ago, because of health problems, my aunt moved here from Indiana to live and take care of him.

His health slowly got worse as the years passed. In his final year, he was diagnosed with Colon Cancer.

Grandpa had a passion for family history and temple work. He spent countless hours giving service in the Logan temple until his health got worse and prevented him from leaving his home.

Despite his many health complications, including the fact that his hands were so painful he could only type with one or two fingers at a time, he continued to spend hours on his home computer indexing names for family history work. In the year preceding his death, he indexed over 51,000 names.

On Tuesday, March 22, 2013 I spent about 5 hours at the bedside of my dying grandfather. He passed away that night at about 12:55am, a couple of hours after I had left his home.

One part of me feels like it was a blessing he was released from his pain and suffering. I am grateful that he was able to pass on to the next life where he gets to live with my grandmother again. I know without a shadow of a doubt that he is in a much happier place.

But that doesn't stop me from missing him and hurting on the inside. I am so grateful for all of the lessons he taught, all the love he gave to me, his family, friends, and acquaintances, and for the positive differences he made in the lives of all those around him. He will be missed here on Earth.