NIBLEY— LeRoy Elmer Saunders, 88, devoted husband, father and grandfather, passed away due to causes incident to his age, March 20, 2005.

LeRoy was born January 3, 1917, in Greenville, Utah, the fifth of fourteen children born to Willard Gimbert and Kirstiana Andersen Saunders. Raised in Benson, he graduated from North Cache High School, and later married Helene Elizabeth Olsen in the Logan Temple, November 23, 1938. The parents of seven children, they have spent nearly all of their married life living in Nibley.

LeRoy was known to all as an industrious worker. During World War II, he supported the war effort by working at the Ogden Arsenal. After the conclusion of the war, he joined with a brother in a farming operation, raising a variety of row crops, a small dairy herd, and later developing a successful mink ranching operation. Many Cache Valley youth earned their school money each year picking beans in the Saunders pole bean fields through the 1960's and early 1970's. He also worked for the U.S. Postal Service, where he served as a rural route carrier to the farming communities in the southwest part of the valley until his retirement. He was an accomplished gardener, and raised a large and abundant garden, which he shared with all the neighbors. He loved to fish, and truly enjoyed the time he spent fishing in local rivers, streams, reservoirs and irrigation canals. He also served as a "Santa's Helper" for many years, bringing joy to the faces of little children each holiday season.

LeRoy was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in a variety of callings, including bishop's counselor, priesthood presidencies and group leadership, and for many years as Scoutmaster of Nibley's Troop 28. In 1984, he and Helene fulfilled a life-long dream when they were called to serve in the California San Diego Mormon Battalion Visitors Center Mission. After the conclusion of their mission, they gave many years of service as officiators in the Logan Temple.

LeRoy is survived by his wife of 67 years, Helene, and six of their children: Yvonne (L.R.) Earl, River Heights; Kathryn (M. Don) Larsen, Smithfield; Karren (Richard) Farnsworth, Boise, Idaho; Janet (Quin) Pinson, Farmington; Vincent (Ann) Saunders, West Jordan; and Victor (Kelley) Saunders, Providence; a foster son, Rod (Jo) Velarde, Dulce New Mexico; 23 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by five siblings, Dorothy (VerNon) Petersen, Smithfield; Donna Naylor, Logan; Merlin (Venna) Saunders, Benson; Carroll ( J. Allen) Wayman, Brigham City; and Willard (Rosalie) Saunders, Hyde Park. His parents, siblings Aletha, Gilbert, Earl, Mary, Lillie, Ruth, Donald and Wendell, a son, Randall, and three grandchildren, Catherine Earl and Brady and Matthew Larsen, preceded him in death.

Funeral Services will be held Thursday, March 24, 2005 at noon, at the Nibley 6th LDS Ward, 3200 South 350 West, Nibley under the direction of Bishop Brett Broadhead. Friends may call Wednesday evening at Allen-Hall Mortuary from 6 - 8 p.m., and 10:30 - 11:45 AM before the funeral service at the ward house. Interment will be in the Logan Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family by email at [email protected]. Please put Leroy Saunders in subject.