Vera Esplin Ballard was born in Basalt, Idaho, to Marion and Cleminta Esplin on Oct. 9, 1915. She grew up and attended both elementary and high schools in Shelley, Idaho. She later attended college in Pocatello, Idaho, and Utah State University in Logan, Utah, where she earned a bachelor's degree in home economics.
In 1938, she signed a contract to teach home economics in the high school at Snowflake, Ariz. There she met Ben J. Ballard, and they were later married Dec. 22, 1939. In 1941, they moved to Corvallis in order for Ben to attend Oregon State University.
After her children (Val, Diann and Julia) were in school, she renewed her teaching certificate and again taught home economics in the Corvallis junior high schools. During the summer months she took classes at Oregon State University, and in 1963, she earned her master's degree in home economics. She continued teaching in the Corvallis school system for 17 years, retiring in 1971.
After retirement she devoted her energy to hobbies such as sewing, quilt making, embroidering, cooking, raising flowers and gardening.
In 1982, she and her husband, Ben, received a call to serve as Ordinance Workers in the LDS Temples. They then spent the next 13 years giving service in both the Seattle and the Portland temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
After living for 50 years in the home that the she and the children helped build, Vera had to give up housekeeping as the result of a stroke. She and her husband then moved into an assisted living facility, where she made the comment, "If you can't live in your own home, then I guess this is the next best place to live."
Vera died peacefully on Sept. 24, 2008, with family and friends in attendance, just 15 days short of her 93rd birthday. She is survived by her husband, Ben, married for 68 years; three children, son Val of Richland, Wash., daughters Diann Lalliss of North Salt Lake, Utah, and Julia Stacey of Fontana, Calif., (a son Charles Harvey died in infancy); 19 grandchildren; and 42 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Saturday, Sept. 27, in the Walnut Building chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A viewing will be at 10 a.m. in the Relief Society Room with the funeral service following at 11 a.m. Arrangements are by McHenry Funeral Home.
In 1938, she signed a contract to teach home economics in the high school at Snowflake, Ariz. There she met Ben J. Ballard, and they were later married Dec. 22, 1939. In 1941, they moved to Corvallis in order for Ben to attend Oregon State University.
After her children (Val, Diann and Julia) were in school, she renewed her teaching certificate and again taught home economics in the Corvallis junior high schools. During the summer months she took classes at Oregon State University, and in 1963, she earned her master's degree in home economics. She continued teaching in the Corvallis school system for 17 years, retiring in 1971.
After retirement she devoted her energy to hobbies such as sewing, quilt making, embroidering, cooking, raising flowers and gardening.
In 1982, she and her husband, Ben, received a call to serve as Ordinance Workers in the LDS Temples. They then spent the next 13 years giving service in both the Seattle and the Portland temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
After living for 50 years in the home that the she and the children helped build, Vera had to give up housekeeping as the result of a stroke. She and her husband then moved into an assisted living facility, where she made the comment, "If you can't live in your own home, then I guess this is the next best place to live."
Vera died peacefully on Sept. 24, 2008, with family and friends in attendance, just 15 days short of her 93rd birthday. She is survived by her husband, Ben, married for 68 years; three children, son Val of Richland, Wash., daughters Diann Lalliss of North Salt Lake, Utah, and Julia Stacey of Fontana, Calif., (a son Charles Harvey died in infancy); 19 grandchildren; and 42 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Saturday, Sept. 27, in the Walnut Building chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A viewing will be at 10 a.m. in the Relief Society Room with the funeral service following at 11 a.m. Arrangements are by McHenry Funeral Home.
Vera Esplin Ballard was born in Basalt, Idaho, to Marion and Cleminta Esplin on Oct. 9, 1915. She grew up and attended both elementary and high schools in Shelley, Idaho. She later attended college in Pocatello, Idaho, and Utah State University in Logan, Utah, where she earned a bachelor's degree in home economics.
In 1938, she signed a contract to teach home economics in the high school at Snowflake, Ariz. There she met Ben J. Ballard, and they were later married Dec. 22, 1939. In 1941, they moved to Corvallis in order for Ben to attend Oregon State University.
After her children (Val, Diann and Julia) were in school, she renewed her teaching certificate and again taught home economics in the Corvallis junior high schools. During the summer months she took classes at Oregon State University, and in 1963, she earned her master's degree in home economics. She continued teaching in the Corvallis school system for 17 years, retiring in 1971.
After retirement she devoted her energy to hobbies such as sewing, quilt making, embroidering, cooking, raising flowers and gardening.
In 1982, she and her husband, Ben, received a call to serve as Ordinance Workers in the LDS Temples. They then spent the next 13 years giving service in both the Seattle and the Portland temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
After living for 50 years in the home that the she and the children helped build, Vera had to give up housekeeping as the result of a stroke. She and her husband then moved into an assisted living facility, where she made the comment, "If you can't live in your own home, then I guess this is the next best place to live."
Vera died peacefully on Sept. 24, 2008, with family and friends in attendance, just 15 days short of her 93rd birthday. She is survived by her husband, Ben, married for 68 years; three children, son Val of Richland, Wash., daughters Diann Lalliss of North Salt Lake, Utah, and Julia Stacey of Fontana, Calif., (a son Charles Harvey died in infancy); 19 grandchildren; and 42 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Saturday, Sept. 27, in the Walnut Building chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A viewing will be at 10 a.m. in the Relief Society Room with the funeral service following at 11 a.m. Arrangements are by McHenry Funeral Home.
In 1938, she signed a contract to teach home economics in the high school at Snowflake, Ariz. There she met Ben J. Ballard, and they were later married Dec. 22, 1939. In 1941, they moved to Corvallis in order for Ben to attend Oregon State University.
After her children (Val, Diann and Julia) were in school, she renewed her teaching certificate and again taught home economics in the Corvallis junior high schools. During the summer months she took classes at Oregon State University, and in 1963, she earned her master's degree in home economics. She continued teaching in the Corvallis school system for 17 years, retiring in 1971.
After retirement she devoted her energy to hobbies such as sewing, quilt making, embroidering, cooking, raising flowers and gardening.
In 1982, she and her husband, Ben, received a call to serve as Ordinance Workers in the LDS Temples. They then spent the next 13 years giving service in both the Seattle and the Portland temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
After living for 50 years in the home that the she and the children helped build, Vera had to give up housekeeping as the result of a stroke. She and her husband then moved into an assisted living facility, where she made the comment, "If you can't live in your own home, then I guess this is the next best place to live."
Vera died peacefully on Sept. 24, 2008, with family and friends in attendance, just 15 days short of her 93rd birthday. She is survived by her husband, Ben, married for 68 years; three children, son Val of Richland, Wash., daughters Diann Lalliss of North Salt Lake, Utah, and Julia Stacey of Fontana, Calif., (a son Charles Harvey died in infancy); 19 grandchildren; and 42 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Saturday, Sept. 27, in the Walnut Building chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A viewing will be at 10 a.m. in the Relief Society Room with the funeral service following at 11 a.m. Arrangements are by McHenry Funeral Home.
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