Colleen Packer Asplund Obituary (1929 - 2009)

Colleen Packer Asplund passed away quietly at home on February 25, 2009, from complications relating to a brain tumor. Colleen was born in Fielding, Utah on September 4, 1929 to Ezra Hugh and Elizabeth Charlotte Hodges Packer, and her older brother Thane. She graduated from Bear River High School in 1947, and received a BA in Education in May of 1951 from USU. On June 19, 1951, she was married to Russell Owen Asplund in the Logan Utah Temple. Colleen and Owen lived in Salt Lake City and Logan, Utah, Morgantown, West Virginia and Laramie, Wyoming for 40 years. They were blessed with six daughter, Annette, Ruthellen, Terry, Rebecca, Elizabeth, and Brita Marie. Colleen obtained two more degrees in Art Education and Library Science, then became the Children’s Librarian at Albany Public Library for 19 years. After serving three missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, they retired to South Jordan, Utah and served as temple workers. Colleen loved her Savior and showed that love through the way she lived her life. Her kindness, caring, and compassion were evident to all who knew her. She also enjoyed music (especially singing), gardening, drawing, painting, and sculpting, and made the world a more beautiful place with her talents. Colleen was a member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, the Laramie Genealogical Society, the Mountain Plains Library Association, the Wyoming Library Association, and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. Colleen was preceded in passing by her father and mother, her brother Thane, and her two granddaughters, Mandy and Maher. She is survived by her husband and her daughters, Annette (LinDee) Hokanson, Ruth (Jesse) Overy, Terry (Dale) Micheli, Becky Asplund, Liz (Zachary) Shields and Brita (Jason) Graham, 20 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. She will also be missed by her extended family, and many dear friends who have cared for her through the years, including two foster daughters, Mary Jane (Joe) Grange, and Colleen Fowler and her children. Those who wish to may make a contribution to honor Colleen’s memory to the Albany County Public Library Children’s Program in Laramie, Wyoming or the University of Utah’s Huntsman Institute in Salt Lake City. Funeral Services will be held Monday, March 2, 2009, 11:00 am at the River Ridge 8th Ward, 10195 South 1000 West. Friends and Family may call Sunday from 5-7 pm at Jenkins-Soffe South Valley, 1007 W. South Jordan Parkway (10600 So.) and Monday from 10-10:45 am prior to the service at the church. Burial will follow at 3:00 pm at the Fielding Cemetery, Fielding, Utah.