Mary Louise "Mitze" Pence Devey (1924-2008)

DEVEY, TRASSDAHL, ERICKSON, PENCE

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 5/10/2008 at 16:14:43

THE STORY CITY HERALD, Story City, Story County, Iowa, Wednesday, April 30, 2008.

Mary Louise (Mitze) Pence Devey passed away April 18, 2008 in Pleasant Grove, Utah. Mitze was born on Dec. 13, 1924 in Grace, Idaho. She was the seventh child born to Otto Birger and Anna Pauline (Erickson) Trassdahl. She was always pleased to tell people that her parents had immigrated from Norway. Her family moved when she was a little girl to Ogden, Utah where she grew up and graduated from Ogden High School.

Mitze married Harvey Alonzo Pence on June 6, 1946 in Ogden, Utah following an extended letter-writing courtship while Harvey was stationed in England during WWII. They spent their married life together on a farm near Eldora, Iowa where they raised their five sons. They were sealed in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on August 18, 1953.

Mary Louise was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served in many positions throughout her life. Harvey and Mitze also served a mission to the Chicago Temple. She loved being the wife of a farmer and was thrilled to be the mother of five boys. She was especially pleased to be a Grandma and was very proud of all her family. Her interests included music, cooking, and gardening. Her love of flowers (especially four o' clocks) was evident in her colorful summertime yard.

She moved to Alpine, Utah following the death of her beloved companion, Harvey. While living there she met and married Ranald Devey, also of Alpine, on Sept. 16, 1995.

Mitze is survived by her five sons: Jerry (Gayle) Story City; Michael (Renee) Kalispell, Montana; Steve (Christie) Eldora; Gary (Debbie) Waukee; and Rick (Kristine) American Fork, Utah, 25 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren, her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Howard and Hazel Pence of Eldora, sister-in-law, Dora Pence of Newton, along with nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her two husbands, her parents, her brothers and sisters.

Visitation was held Saturday, April 26, 9:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. with the funeral at 11:00 am. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Marshalltown, 703 S 12th Street. Internment will be at the Eldora Cemetery in Eldora, Iowa. Pence-Reese Funeral Home of Newton was in charge of the services. Funeral services were also held in Pleasant Grove, Utah on Wednesday, April 23, 10:00 am. at the Olpin Funeral Home.

The family extends a special thanks to Niswander Family at Lakeview Elderly Care Estate for their kind and loving care for our dear Mother and Grandmother during her last four years.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be directed to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America.