Erma Harmer Anderson

Erma Harmer Anderson, 88, passed away May 14, 2009, in Tremonton, Utah of causes related to old age. Erma was born October 17, 1920, in Mapleton, Utah as the youngest daughter of Angus Leo and Jonena S. Gudmundsson Harmer. She was raised in Mapleton and met her husband Marvin J. Anderson there. They were married in the Salt Lake LDS temple on September 18, 1940. During their married life Erma and Marvin lived in Alhambra, CA; Burley, Gooding and Kamiah, ID; and Logan and Plymouth, Utah. Erma was preceded in death by her husband, parents, eleven brothers and sisters, three grandchildren, and one son-in-law. She is survived by her six children: Rauna Stanford Orme, St. Charles, MO; James Betty, Tremonton, UT; Paul, Tremonton, UT; Clain Pamela, Chapel Hill, NC; Sheryl Roger Sunada, Logan, UT; and Christine Albert Purser, Richmond, UT; 23 grandchildren; and 25 great grandchildren. Erma attended Springville High School where she competed in track, basketball, and baseball. She also played on a baseball team sponsored by Kolob Lumber which took state honors and went to a national competition. After her marriage Erma sang in a Southern California vocal group, Fedelias. The group performed at many public and church gatherings. Later she sang with the Singing Mothers group in Idaho. She also enjoyed singing in several ward choirs. Over her lifetime she served in many church callings including Relief Society, Primary, and YWMIA presidencies. Erma excelled in organizing church road shows and socials. She loved to have people gather and enjoy themselves. She also enjoyed serving as a Visiting Teacher wherever she lived and formed many good friendships through that service. Erma collected dolls and would design and sew clothing for them. In 1996 she donated her doll collection to Primary Childrens Medical Center to be used by their young patients. Family was her focus as she adored her husband, loved her children and sacrificed much for them. She was a letter writer and frequently corresponded with many family members and friends throughout her life. Erma was a great cook and sometimes seemed to create banquets from nearly nothing. She used this talent as she worked at USU food services cooking for very large groups. Erma and Marvin lived in Burley where Marvin was working the first year after their marriage. In 1941 they moved to Alhambra where Marvin worked for Lockheed Aircraft. Their first daughter, Rauna, was born there. After five years in California, they decided to move to Southern Idaho to be near Marvin's aging parents and to provide a better place to raise their family. They settled in Gooding for about 20 years and all their remaining children were born there. Marvin eventually started a small dairy farm there. When their children reached college age, the Andersons moved to Logan so that their children could attend Utah State University and remained there for nearly 20 years. After all their children had left home, Erma and Marvin moved to Northern Idaho to help Erma overcome some health problems. After spending about five years there, they returned to Utah and settled in Plymouth before again moving to Logan where Marvin passed away in 2001. Erma remained in Logan living with a son, then spent several years living with her daughter in Richmond. She passed away at the Bear River Valley Care Center in Tremonton. Funeral services will be held at 12:00 noon, Friday, May 22, 2009 at the Foothill First LDS Ward chapel, 1450 East 1500 North in Logan, UT. Viewings will be held from 6:30 to 8:00 pm Thursday, May 21, 2009, at Nelson Funeral Home, 162 East 400 North in Logan, UT, and prior to the service from 10:30 to 11:30 am at the chapel. Burial will be in the Logan Cemetery. Condolences may be extended to the family online at www.nelsonfuneralhome.com .