Colleen Jensen Hyer

On the 23rd day of May 1935 a cry was heard in the rolling hills of Glendale, Idaho, " There's two of them, there's two of them ". And indeed, there were- unexpected twins born to Oleen Alder Jensen and Ellen Clayton Porter. The twins were given the names of Colleen and Helen and they were number seven and eight in a family of nine children.

Colleen's days were carefree and her world was small as the church and the elementary school were in Glendale. She didn't have many memories of her father as he died of a heart attack when she was seven years old. Her mother was in an accident a couple years later that resulted in her being away from home for extended periods of time. Colleen learned early to fair for herself.

She met Larry Hyer during her senior year at Preston High School. They were married in March and she graduated from high school two months later. They moved to Lewiston and into the big brick home 2 miles south of town down a dirt lane that was home for the rest of Colleen's life. They bought that farm from Larry's mother and father. Larry farmed, worked at the sugar company and was in the National Guard. When he was away, Colleen did whatever needed to be done on the farm. Sometimes that was milking the cows, other times it was turning the water in for 11 pm irrigation turn and other times it was digging up a field with the tractor.

Larry and Colleen raised five children on that farm, Christine, Douglas, Kimbur, Lawrence and Blake. After she got all of her children in school, Colleen apprenticed under her brother, Glen Jensen, at Glen's Beauty Shop in Smithfield. She managed the beauty shop and eventually got her cosmetology license. She enjoyed all the people she worked with, the work and her clients. Even with all that, she managed to put a hot meal on the table, most nights for her family.

Colleen was an accomplished seamstress and made many quilts for her children and grandchildren. She liked to keep her hands busy embroidering Temple aprons and crochet-knitting baby afghans. She was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serving as a visiting teacher, in the Primary, the Relief Society and as a docent and then missionary at the Logan Tabernacle. She especially enjoyed Temple trips with her sister, Sharon.

The number of Dutch Oven dinners served by Larry and Colleen to civic and church groups, work socials, and family gatherings is too large to count. It was a lot of work, but they enjoyed it. Colleen loved her family. She and Larry made it to all the family events, usually with their hands full of food to share. Everyone who entered her home was offered food. One of her last trips to the grocery store was to get cookies, in case someone came to visit. The boys couldn't be out in the yard working without Mom going out to see if they needed help.

Larry passed away in 2019. That left a big hole in Colleen's life. They had been together for more than 66 years. She went often to talk to Larry and tell him he needed to come and get her.

About five years ago, Clair Allen invited her to go for a ride with him. They spent many hours together, riding in the 4 x 4, and around the valley just enjoying the sites. They usually had lunch together. It helped two lonely people to not be so lonely. Clair passed away last month. With his sickness and death, Colleen spent a lot of time just looking out the window. She was hoping death would claim her soon also. She got her wish, and after being in the hospital for less than three days, she passed away, peacefully, on October 16th, 2026. She will be missed. Atlas Hospice and the hospital staff made her last hours comfortable.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, twin sister, and siblings, David, Evelyn, BarDee, Glen, and Cecil. Colleen is survived by Christine (Kent Poulsen), Douglas (Peggy Mitton), Kimbur (Joan Cambell), Lawrence (Corrian Gurr), Blake (Jewel Hess), 28 grandchildren, 85 great-grandchildren, and 8 great great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, October 23, 2026,  at 11 a.m. in the Lewiston First Ward Chapel, 10 South 1600 West, Lewiston, Utah. Viewings will be held on Thursday from 6-8 pm at Webb Funeral Home, 1005 South 800 East, Preston, Idaho, and Friday from 9:30-10:30 am at the church in Lewiston. Interment will be in the Lewiston Cemetery. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at webbmortuary.com