Colleen Sorenson (Springer)

Colleen Hall Sorenson (Springer) was born in Ogden Utah on July 7, 1927, to George Raymond Hall and Ruby Myrtle Fronk Hall. She was raised on a cattle ranch in Crow Creek Idaho. It was a solitary but beautiful place where she learned to work hard. She had few companions as she was an only child. When it came time to go to school, she and her mother moved to Afton so she could attend school. She attended grade school and high school in Afton and then Ogden for a time and graduated in 3 years from Star Valley High School in 1944.

            She attended Utah State Agricultural Collage (Utah State University) from 1944 to 1948 where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Home Economics with a minor in Art.  There she met Alfred Earl Sorenson and they were married on June 25, 1948 in the Logan Temple. After she graduated the couple moved to Crow Creek Idaho and lived in a small house near her parents. When LaWana, their oldest child, started school, they built a home in Afton.

            Except for two years when they lived in Ogden Colleen spent the rest of her life living in the Afton house. During the years when the children were in school the family lived in Afton in the winter and Crow Creek in the summer.

            Colleen was a devoted mother. She made sure her children were well dressed by making almost all their clothing. She was an excellent seamstress and tailor. Her Home Economics degree was certainly not wasted. She was accomplished in all the home arts. She cooked for hay crews for many years and was noted for her pies and bread. She raised chickens, turkeys, calves, children, and numerous pets. She was also an artist and architect. She drew the plans for the house in Afton and she and her husband served as general contractors for its construction.

            She was a clever crafter, pattern maker, toy builder, cake decorator, writer, gardener, genealogist, and all-around handy woman. She’d tackle almost any project with enthusiasm. She was a perfectionist and did everything to the best of her considerable ability. She was a school teacher teaching Art and Home Economics at Star Valley High School for many years.          Colleen was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and raised her children to be faithful members as well. In addition to having children faithful to the church Colleen and Alf had the goal that each of their children would graduate with a Bachelor’s degree. Colleen returned to the workforce as a teacher in order to make this possible. It took a while but at last every child accomplished this goal.

            After Alf died in November 1993 Colleen married Glen Fred Springer who died October 2015. Colleen was proceeded in death: mother-Ruby Myrtle Fronk (Hall) May 2, 1987; father-George Raymond (Ray) Hall May 6, 1994; Brother, Ray Fronk Hall 4 April 1926; stillborn sister 16 May 1934; husband-Alfred Earl Sorenson 12 Nov 1993; husband Glen Fred Springer Oct 2015; mother-in-law-Dora Elnor (Hathaway) Sorenson 31 January 1962; daughter-Alleen Debra (Lang) Sorenson August 3, 2007; grandson-Duncan Campbell Lang 17 Oct 1997; son-in-law Lorin Jay Stott 6 Sept 2008; son-in-law Raymond Peter Draper 18 Sept 2008

            She is survived by children: LaWana Sorenson (Draper); ReNae Sorenson (Bowling) and Gordon Lee Bowling; Janene (Jan) Sorenson (Stott); son-in-law David Duane Lang; Raymond Mikel Sorenson and Tracey (Bateman) Sorenson, 17 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.