Elsie Mae Grow

Elsie Mae Grow passed away on March 25, 2024, in Boise, Idaho, at the age of 95. She was born on August 7, 1928, in Malta, Idaho. Elsie was a loving wife to Cecil Grow and a devoted mother to her sons Scott, Craig, Grant, and Roger Grow.

Elsie was the youngest daughter of Joseph Valentine Lee and Laura Brizzee Lee. In 1930, at the age of 2, the family moved from Malta to Heyburn, Idaho. It was here that Elsie received her education. She was the first in her family to attend kindergarten. This only lasted a brief time because the community could not afford to continue it. In 1946, she graduated from Heyburn High School with 16 girls and 4 boys in her graduating class. Elsie had many friends, but her best friend in elementary school was Frances Pratt. When the girls were in fourth grade, Frances moved away. Elsie said she never wanted another best friend because it was so hard when they moved away. However, Elsie had the special ability to make anyone she knew feel as if they were her closest friend.

Elsie had many fond memories of her years in Heyburn, including swimming lessons in the river, Saturday night dances at the Y Dell Ballroom, 5 cent movie matinees, and roller-skating at a rink in Burley once a year. On Sunday evenings, her family would play softball or card games and her mother would make them special treats like popcorn or taffy.

It was at the Saturday Night Dances that Elsie got acquainted with Cecil Grow and eventually they started dating. After Cecil was discharged from the service they got engaged and on September 12, 1947, were married for time and eternity in the Idaho Falls Temple. The newlyweds moved to Moscow, Idaho so Cecil could attend college. It was here that their first son, Scott, was born. After moving back to Boise, 3 more sons, Craig, Grant, and Roger were born.

Elsie was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She spent many years working with the cub scouts, as well as serving as both ward and stake Primary President, ward and stake Young Women President, and Relief Society President. She also was an ordinance worker in the Boise, Idaho Temple for 30 years. Together with Cecil, Elsie served five missions including Riverside California, Ulaanbaatar Mongolia, Nairobi Kenya, Monterey Mexico, and Nauvoo Illinois. She was elated with the recent announcement of a temple being built in Mongolia.

She enjoyed knitting, crocheting, and quilting with the sisters in the ward for Humanitarian Aid. She also took art classes, violin lessons, and piano lessons.

Elsie is survived by her husband Cecil and sons Scott (Rhonda), Craig (Deveda), and Roger (Melissa). She is also survived by 21 grandchildren, 67 great-grandchildren, and 16 great-great-grandchildren. Elsie was preceded in death by her son Grant (Monique), her parents, five sisters, Edna Tilley, Ella Payne, Idella Wilcox, Myrtle Hellewell, and Grace Lewis, and 4 brothers, Norman Lee, Arlo Lee, Roy White, and Willard White.

Elsie will always be remembered for her kind and gentle spirit and the devoted way she cared for and served others.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 30, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located at 3200 Cassia St, Boise, Idaho. Interment will take place at Dry Creek Cemetery on Monday, April 1, 2024.

Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/98395253515?pwd=cUVOckZYNEJjbUhOeXczMG03SWxDdz09
Meeting ID: 983 9525 3515
Passcode: 531419