Burley, Idaho - Lila June May Priest Anderson, age 78, passed away Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009, at Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George, Utah, of a lingering illness. She was born on June 11, 1931, in Rupert, Idaho, to Marshall Harry and Beulah Colleen (Morgan) May. She was loved and adored by family, friends and all who knew her. Lila was kind, giving, and selfless. She always considered others before herself and was happy only if others were happy. She grew up in the Burley/Rupert area attending schools there. She married John LaVon Priest on Aug. 15, 1945. She became an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in various callings. John and Lila were blessed with three children, Susan Kay Beck (David), Michael John Priest (Chris), and Scott Mariner Priest (Wendy) all of Burley. Their first home was in the Stars Ferry area. Later, they bought a farm in Declo, where Lila continued to work hard, raise her children and balance a career at Cassia Memorial Hospital. She served the community for many years in the dietary department and became a good dietician. Lila was an extremely hard worker, teaching her children those same values. The things she enjoyed most in life were family, remembering all birthdays, being an active member of the LDS Church, hard work, any kind of handwork, gardening, flowers, scrap booking and traveling. She also enjoyed trinkets, tree festivals, music and cooking. You could always find her loving babies and animals, and enjoying fruit gushers or skittles. On Dec. 2, 1995, she married Nephi Anderson in the Ogden LDS Temple. She surrounded herself with eight more wonderful children who loved her as a mother: Sheryl (Lew) Ruggiero of Phoenix, Arizona, Jay (Susan) Anderson of Burley, Idaho, Doug (Melba) Anderson of Pleasant Grove, Utah, David (Susan) Anderson of Saint George, Utah, Annette (Mark) Laraway of West Jordan, Utah, Evan (Noreen) Anderson of Camano Island, Washington, Rachelle (Jeff) Arbon of Blackfoot, Idaho, and Janalee (Lindsey) Dimond of Grace, Idaho. Lila was a strong catalyst in helping to bring two families together. She loved and served all of them, and they all loved her as well. A highlight of her life was serving an LDS mission with her husband, Nephi, in the Pennsylvania Harrisburg Mission. She said, "It is so rewarding to go on a mission and see people that have finally seen the light and feel the spirit that has been there all along." Lila cooked for many missionaries and made a lot of apple pie for the people there and for all of us. For 13 years, Lila and Nephi lived in Burley, spending some winters in Saint George, Utah, serving as temple workers. In 2007, Saint George became their permanent home. There, they enjoyed the warm weather, the beautiful area, family and friends. She is survived by her husband, Nephi of Saint George, Utah; two sisters, Stella Louise Visser of Beaverton, Oregon, and Darla Gordon of Las Vegas, Nevada; 11 children; 45 grandchildren; 54 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Peggy; a brother-in-law, Jay Gordon; and five grandchildren. She loved her family. They were very special to her. Our lives have been enriched and blessed by knowing and loving Grandma Lila. We gained an abundance of knowledge from her. The love she had for all will be a great asset, as she will be a very busy angel in Heaven. The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, at the Pella LDS Church, 160 W. 400 S., of Burley, with Bishop Rod Lake officiating. Burial will be in the View Cemetery. A visitation for family and friends will be held from 6 until 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18, at the Metcalf Mortuary, 288 W. Saint George, Blvd., in Saint George, Utah. A second visitation will be held from 6 until 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, at the Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley, and from 9 until 9:45 a.m. Saturday at the church.