We got word in mid-May that Grandma Carol (Dave's grandma and our kids' great grandma) passed away. She wasn't doing well for a while so it wasn't surprising. And while we are sad, we know she is in a better state and happy gathering on the other side! We are so grateful for her life and example! She moved to Bountiful a couple of years ago, so we are happy the kids got to know her and see her smile and feel her love better. Since she has passed away, Grandpa Chuck hasn't been doing well. We pray for him and all of Grandma Carol's family daily and love them all.
Grandma Carol welcomed me into the family with love. She made Dave and I a blanket we keep on our bed. Whenever I see it, I think of her. She also made a blanket for Emma when she was born. We have other handicraft items in our house she made - a cross stitched piano bench cover, a fleece blanket she made for Dave when he was a teen, a foot rest chair, and I think Dave has some crocheted slippers from her also. Whenever we would go visit their home in Emmett, ID Grandma was busy at work gardening, cooking, creating. I loved looking through the extensive family photo albums and family history books she had gathered and created. She was so excited to do family history work and bind her family together. She had books of poems I liked reading through, as well as songs. She asked me to set some of her songs to music. The one I finished was "His Perfect Love", and while she had the main melody, I harmonized and added things. Here are the lyrics for that:
"How did He love so completely to give up His life for the world? And even be willing to suffer such grief When rejected, deserted and scorned.
(Chorus) His is the love that surpasses my understanding. Great is the love my Savior gives to me. Sweet in its purity and everlasting. His love goes on eternally, special and sacred to me. God's love goes on eternally.
Why would he be so forgiving when mocked by the cruelest of men? They would not give water, placed thorns on his head. Just consider His love for all of them then!
(Chorus)
Miracles come with the loving He rose from the tomb that great day! Heart filled with compassion and love of mankind. He is calling come follow my way.
(Chorus)."
As we went to Meridian for the funeral, we were able to talk about Grandma Carol and the legacy she left. I am thankful for the sweet woman she was and the testimony Grandma Carol left! We got to take my cousin Kyle, who is serving a mission in Meridian, and his companion out to lunch. We went to a Mexican place and it was pretty good. It was great talking to him and catching up, asking questions about missionary life, and seeing his heart in the work! Then we met up with Jerry & Stacy's family to Fly High trampoline park. We had a great time and it was perfect for the kids after long car rides in the morning. We laughed a lot. When we were done, the kids were saying "Fly high, Grandma Carol!" It was a super hot afternoon. Then we checked into our hotel, Dave reserved a room for Jerry & Stacy's clan right next door. So that was fun. We went to the viewing. Grandma Carol looked beautiful! This opened up lots of great conversations about life and death and the Plan of Salvation. Kira was so confused about where her legs were, Sydnie kept saying how much she missed Grandma Carol. We looked through the photo albums Grandma Carol had assembled, talked to family members we hadn't seen in a long time or some I'd never met, tried to keep the kids happy and walked them around outside and played games outside with them. Jerry gave a beautiful family prayer that had us all in tears and then the casket was closed. After, we went to dinner at Freddy's and got burgers, fries and ice cream. Then that night, we went swimming at the pool at the hotel but our fun got cut short when Brody lost his dinner in the pool, ew! We love him anyways though!
Grandma Carol had a graveside service. We went to the Dry Creek cemetery where the kids enjoyed climbing in the trees a bit and Cov was excited to find Coverton Kelly Ryerse's headstone (his 2nd great grandpa!). Dan spoke for a bit, they played the song "The Lord's Been Good to Me" from Johnny Appleseed that Grandma Carol insisted she wanted on her headstone according to Uncle Parry (her and Chuck decided on "The Lord's Been Good to Us"), then people could share memories or thoughts about Grandma Carol. A few shared and then I shared a few thoughts. I told everyone how Grandma Carol stood for three things - faith, family and fun. I shared the lyrics of the songs, which only a few knew about. I bore my testimony that I knew the Savior's love is for us and is real and that she knew and shared that. I talked about her family was so important and first in her life and how we were blessed to have her example in loving and treating all with charity. Then, I talked about how she always had that sparkling smile on her face and great laugh enjoyed fun times with her family. One of the best memories I have with her was going on a cruise to Alaska with her and the family. She was in her element and doing what she loved with the people she loved. I am thankful we got to experience some of the heart to heart conversations we did. We love Grandma Carol and are grateful beyond measure for her life and devoted love to her God and the Savior, her family and to having a great attitude. Then, Dan dedicated the grave and we took some pictures, then those who wanted got to take flowers from her flower arrangement. Then some of the grandkids started crying, then Tayla started bawling, then Emma and it trickled down. We are glad Grandma Carol is on the other side of the veil and sure she is already put to work there. We are happy she didn't have to suffer very long and had a peaceful passing and that we will see her again some day!
Here are some thoughts and memories from our kids.
Sydnie - Grandma Carol was so nice and kind and always had a big grin on her face!
Coverton - She was always in a good mood.
Lucy - I don't remember much about her but when you're around her, you instantly feel loved and it's impossible to feel unloved by her.
Callahan - You feel loved amazingly by her so much that you want to just give her a big hug. You could feel how much she loved the gospel and how much love came from her.
Emma - Grandma Carol was always so kind and a good example of living the Gospel.
Here is Grandma Carol's obituary.
Carol Ann Petersen Ryerse passed away peacefully on the night of May 17, 2023, in Bountiful, Utah. Carol was born September 23, 1932, in Reno, Nevada to Viggo and Mary Petersen. She was the fourth of six children. Carol is preceded in death by her 3 older sisters, Nan, Shirley, and Verna, her younger brother Vance, and her daughter Tracy. She is survived by her husband Chuck (Bountiful, UT), her brother Frank and his wife Patty (Sparks, NV), and her children: Dan and his wife Sue (Bountiful, UT), Rick and his wife Nancy (Meridian, ID), her son-in-law Raymond (Whitehall, MT), her daughter Kelly (Nampa, ID), and Parry and his wife Shannon (Nampa, ID). Additionally, Carol has 26 grandchildren, 35 great grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild who love and respect her tremendously.
Carol spent her childhood in Reno and was always happy to speak of her childhood friends and good times growing up. During her later teenage years after her sisters had moved away, she was able to develop a special bond with her younger brothers that continued throughout her life. After a very brief stint at the University of Nevada Reno, where she met the love of her life, Chuck, whom she married on the 6th of November, 1952, she put aside her academic pursuits and dedicated her life to her family.
Carol and her young family continued to live in Reno in a house designed by Carol herself. She helped make ends meet by dealing Black Jack at Harold’s Club for more than 10 years. Carol was always willing to sacrifice herself for the family’s well-being. In the mid 1970’s, Carol left her beloved Reno behind to establish the family in Idaho. A house was soon constructed (again designed by Carol) in Eagle, where she stayed for another 15 plus years. During this time Carol also worked at the local egg farm and as a rural postal carrier for the U.S. Post Office. Carol then designed and built yet another house in Emmett, where she was able to spend most of her retirement years.
Carol was a lifelong, faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She would serve and give willingly of her time and talents in whatever capacity she was asked. Her faith, loyalty, and dedication served her well as she was always true to who she was, no matter the circumstance in which she found herself.
Carol had a deep love and passion for literature, poetry, history, music, and word games (if you ever wanted to tap into her fierce competitive nature, just engage her in a nice “friendly” game of Scrabble). She spent endless hours researching her relatives and would become giddy when discovering a small clue about a long-lost relation. Carol taught expected behavior and morals effectively through the use of stories and song lyrics and it seems like she had an endless catalog of poems in her head to know exactly what to say in any given situation. She would hum songs often throughout her days and it can truly be said that she had a song in her heart for her entire life.
Carol’s happiest moments were her time spent with family. She loved to knit and sew, and many people would anxiously look forward to a pair of Christmas slippers or a nice warm quilt. Her smile and laughter filled the room when surrounded by the ones she loved and it was impossible for one to feel unloved while in her presence. Her caring and sacrifice were second to none and she was always willing to whip up a quick snack or a 4 course meal for those who requested it and everyone loved the Halloween popcorn balls and famous dill pickles. Carol reacted marvelously in times of crisis. Nothing was ever more important in life than when a family member needed her. She would drop whatever she was doing to rub mud on a bee sting or treat a scraped knee with mercurochrome (a substance now banned in the U.S, but somehow, we survived) followed by the appropriate amount of hugs and kisses and the patient would be magically healed. It is amazing that one person could share so much love, everyone felt like they were the most important person in the world when they were by Carol.
It is difficult to sum up a life of 90 plus years in just a few words, but everything Carol did, she did it with unconditional love. She greatly loved all those she met and never spoke ill of anyone. She will be greatly missed, but she will never be forgotten. We love you Carol.
Visitation for family and friends will be held from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at Bowman Funeral Parlor, 10254 W. Carlton Bay Dr. in Garden City. A graveside service will be held at 10:00 am, on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, at Dry Creek Cemetery, 9600 Hill Rd. in Boise.
Arrangements are under the direction of Bowman Funeral Parlor of Garden City.
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