Dolores Ann Clegg Gilbert

Dolores Ann Clegg Gilbert, 92, of Grace, Idaho, passed away Tuesday, September 10, 2024, at Heritage Home in Preston, Idaho. Dolores was born on August 18, 1932, in Soda Springs, Idaho, to Benjamin Orson and Laura Poppleton Gunnell Clegg. She was the seventh and final child of her family. Dolores enjoyed growing up in Bench and playing with her Clegg cousins, particularly Maurice Clegg, who lived across the road. When she was old enough, she worked side by side with her father, Orson, out in the fields. He suddenly passed away when she was 13 years old. She was devastated. 

During the years of the war, most of the young men were serving in World War II, including her two brothers, Warren and Jerry. She would run the hay derrick in the barn for her Uncle Robert Clegg because there was no other help. When it came time for the Caribou County Fair, he offered her his beautiful black horse to try out for the Queen competition. She was chosen as 2nd Attendant, and two of her daughters, Cindy and DeAnn, did horse 4-H clubs for many years, traveling to parades, the Fair, trail rides, and 4-H meetings around the valley. She was always the one loading the horses into the cattle truck. It wasn’t until very late in her life she admitted that she was scared of horses…a shock to our entire family.

Dolores married Don William Gilbert on October 15, 1948. They were married 67 ½ years when he passed away on April 9, 2016. They worked hand in hand, growing their farm and ranch. She drove grain and potato trucks until she was 76 years old.

Dolores was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, holding various leadership positions, but she will be best remembered for serving 13 years as Compassionate Service leader of the Grace First Ward. She always served ham, her Mother’s hot mustard sauce recipe, and would make a large carrot cake, making sure to save Duayne and Darrin Sims a piece of cake by hiding it in her trunk or a cupboard in the kitchen. Community service was a very important part of her life. Serving as President of many of them more than once. They included the Grace Literary Club, American Legion Auxiliary, Caribou County Cowbelles, Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 4-H, and Red Hats. She enjoyed being in charge of Girls State for many years and won the Friend of 4-H award for her many years of service. She helped make the wreaths for the Veteran’s graves for all of the cemeteries around Grace. She and the other women from the American Legion Auxiliary would decorate all of their graves every Memorial Day. They also sold poppies each year, as well as, making and taking Valentine’s cookies to the Veterans Home in Pocatello each year.

Don always said, “Dolores couldn’t boil water when they got married”, but she became a very good cook. She was in charge of the famous “Orange Cookbook”. She always enjoyed hunting with her family, especially on opening day. She was known to be the best shot in the family. Her son, Richard, would bring her a large variety of birds to clean and cook. She always had a large, beautiful garden and enjoyed canning most of her produce, an art she learned from her Mother. She enjoyed traveling and cats and had a fun sense of humor. She was an avid quilter for most of her life, making many quilts for her children and grandchildren. She loved to host “Quiltings” in her home, also at her weekly Relief Society meetings and at her friend’s homes. This was an art she learned from her Mother. She loved watching the Utah Jazz and planning her and Don’s schedule around the games. She loved looking for Phil Johnson, Assistant Coach, from Grace. She always wanted to see what tie he was wearing. She continued to watch the games for many years after Don passed away.

Dolores is survived by daughters Cindy (George) Boughan, Green Valley, Arizona, and DeAnn (Jared) Nelson, South Jordan, Utah, 15 grandchildren, 46 great grandchildren, 12 great, great grandchildren, one sister Sarah Ardell Clegg Merrill Lyon of Preston, Idaho. She was preceded in death by her husband, Don William Gilbert, son Richard William Gilbert, Grace, Idaho, daughter Chistine Toomer of Ferron, Utah. Five brothers: Leo Gunnell, Richard Orson, Warren Benjamin, Gerald Thomas, and Deward Frank. Services will be held on Saturday, September 21st, at the Grace Idaho Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Stake Center at 11:00 am, with a viewing before from 9:30 am to 10:30 am and viewing Friday, September 20th, from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at the same location. Burial will be at the Grace Cemetery immediately following the services. For those not able to attend the services in person, there will be a live feed of the services. Please follow the link to access it. CLICK HERE TO VIEW SERVICES

The family wishes to express their thanks for the care of their Mother to Symbii Hospice Care (Joni, Thelma and Cara), Heritage Home and Red Rose Funeral Home.