Twila Leona Humphries

Twila Leona Russell Humphries, 86, of Ammon, Idaho passed away Saturday, April 28, 2012 at the Idaho Falls Care and Rehab Center.  She was born September 14, 1925 at her Aunt Violet Lords’ home in Taylor, near Shelley, to Edward Jackson Russell and Hazel Vinona Taysom Russell.

Twila attended first grade, then her family moved to Grant where she continued first grade and completed second grade.  The Russells then relocated to Leslie, near Mackay, where Twila attended third grade.  After the family home was destroyed by fire, they moved back to Grant where Twila completed grades four through seven.  The family moved again and Twila finished eighth grade at Ammon and graduated from the old Ammon High School, which later became the elementary school.

After high school graduation, Twila worked at Kress’s Variety Store for a while.  She then went to Butte, Montana to help her Aunt Grace, who was ill.  Twila returned home from Butte when her Grandma Mary Russell passed away.  Twila and her cousin Drusilla rented an apartment together in Idaho Falls and Twila worked at Rogers Brothers Potato Plant.  Later, both Twila and Drusilla got jobs at Gill’s Grill.  After Drusilla married in February 1945, Twila’s cousin Vera moved into the apartment with Twila.

Twila met her future husband, Wayne Humphries, at Gill’s Grill and their relationship began.  Twila and Wayne were married in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple on February 20, 1946.  They moved into a log home on the farm next to Wayne’s parents’ farm west of Shelley, near Woodville.  They farmed there for about ten years.  They then bought a farm in the Riverview area, west of Shelley.  Twila helped on the farm and also prepared meals for the crews who helped on the farm during grain, hay, and potato harvests.

Twila loved pink flamingos and bright pink petunias and planted them every spring in front of their home and along their white fence.  She also raised a vegetable garden.  She was always an immaculate housekeeper and received many compliments because of it.  She made delicious angel food cakes, lemon meringue pies, and scones.  Candy was not plentiful at their home, but her children remember her counting out M&Ms for them so that each child got an equal number of each color. 

Twila and Wayne raised their four children on the farm.  Later, Twila and Wayne divorced and she moved to Ammon.  She helped on the farm and was a home maker for many years, then worked at King’s Variety Store and French’s in Shelley.  Later, she worked at Farr’s Candy Company, Albertson’s Bakery, and Sears Catalog Department in Idaho Falls.

After retiring, Twila loved to shop, have her hair done, and go to lunch with her daughters and spend time with her children and grand children.  During that time, she and Wayne were able to renew their friendship and enjoyed going to lunch and dinner together.  Wayne preceded her in death on March 6, 2012.\Twila moved to Peak Village Assisted Living in Ammon when she got older and required more care.  She made some good friends and learned to love living there.  When her children came to visit, they always brought her chocolate and Pepsi to brighten her day.

She is survived by her children, Stacia Herndon and Shawna (Kent) England of Shelley; Shayla (Mike) Hawkes of Moreland, and Gaylen Humphries of Idaho Falls; 10 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.  Also surviving are her siblings, Delwin (June) Russell, Eloyce Talamantez, and Ron Russell of Idaho Falls, and Dale (Mary) Russell of Ucon. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; brother and sister in law, Gerald and Joyce Russell; brother and sister in law, LaVoy and Annie Russell, and three infant brothers. 

Twila’s children will meet with friends and family from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, May 3 at Nalder Funeral Home, 110 W. Oak Street in Shelley.  Private family services and interment will be next to Wayne at Fielding Memorial Park in Idaho Falls. 

Twila’s family wishes to thank the staff at Castle Peak Assisted Living for the love, care, and attention they provided during the several years Twila lived there.  The family also thanks the staff at the Idaho Falls Care and Rehab Center for the care they provided during Twila’s final days.