Elaine Genevieve Wilde

Mother, Grandmother, and Great-Grandmother Elaine P. Wilde, age 90, passed away, April 24, 2018 after a short hospital stay. Born January 4, 1928 in Salt Lake City, Elaine was the daughter of Maurice Delbert Pugmire and Cecil Annie Gasser.  Along with her sister and three brothers she was raised in the Holladay area, spending summers in the Bear Lake Valley where ancestors had settled.

She graduated from Granite High School in 1946 and attended BYU, graduating with an Education degree in 1952.  She served an LDS mission in the Central States Mission October 1949 through May 1951.  On December 21, 1953, she married Veldon Lawrence Wilde in the Salt Lake Temple. They built a home on the east foothills in rural Centerville in 1958. Together, their family expanded to include eight children, all boys except seven! Elaine learned from her mother to be very resourceful and enjoyed homemaking, sewing, reading, gardening and had an appreciation of art.

Throughout the years she had a passion for history and genealogical research. She was an active member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers for 42 years, and served as the editor for their publication “Legacy” during the years 1999 to 2004.   Elaine also served as editor and historian for the U.S. Mormon Battalion Inc.  for a short time. After divorcing in 1980 she pursued her interest in writing and editing through employment for the LDS Church in the Curriculum Department. Later, transferring to the Temple Department, she was responsible to coordinate each new temple’s open house events.

Elaine was an active member of the LDS Church and served in many callings, including 22 years as a Temple Ordinance worker in the Salt Lake Temple. Her strong testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ influenced many friends and family.  Upon retiring, Elaine continued to write and compile family histories of her parents and grandparents. Extending love to neighbors, friends and family with bouquets of gladiolus or roses from her garden was a regular habit.  She always had a good book, article or quote to share. Many have been blessed by her home-sewn gifts!

Elaine is survived by her children: Camille Kitterman (Keith) Fort Wayne, IN, Rozanne Young (Scott) Houston, TX, Cheryl Crowther (Don) Racine, WI, Eileen Montgomery (Les) Corona CA, Annette Taylor Layton UT, Lawry V. Wilde (Lisa) Idaho Falls, ID, Susan Mangelson (Gary) Dublin, OH, and Mary Jo Bergman (Dean) Woodstock, GA, 42 grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren and counting!

A viewing will be held 6-8:00 pm Sunday, April 29   at Russon Brothers Mortuary, 295 North Main Street, Bountiful, UT. Funeral services will be held on Monday, April 30, 2018, at 10:00 am at the LDS chapel 270 North 300 East, Centerville, UT.  with a family viewing from 9-9:45am. Interment will be at the St Charles Cemetery, St Charles, ID at 4pm.