January 13, 1933 — March 17, 2024 (age 91)
Elsie Swann Briscoe, 91, passed away peacefully on March 17, 2024 In Preston, Idaho.
Elsie was born January 13, 1933 in Central, Idaho (near the town of Grace), to Alexander Ephraim Swann and Anna Elvira Christensen. She was the third of seven children. Her family moved to Banida when she was still a baby, during the great depression.
Elsie’s early school years were spent in the one-room Banida Elementary, where all six grades met together. She later attended junior and senior high at Preston High School. After graduating from Preston High School, Elsie attended Idaho State College in Pocatello, where she met the young man that would change her life forever, Glen J. Briscoe, at an LDS Institute dance.
Elsie and Glen were married July 23, 1952 in the Idaho Falls Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. After Glen graduated from Idaho State College in 1953 they moved to Seattle where he had a grant to continue his studies in nuclear physics at the University of Washington. Their first child was born just before they moved to Seattle. After a year in Washington, Glen was offered a job by Phillips Petroleum at what is now the Idaho National Laboratory site in eastern Idaho. Glen accepted the job and they moved back to Idaho, where they raised their family in Idaho Falls, then Rigby.
Elsie loved music, especially the Tabernacle Choir, and enjoyed her years singing in The Chansonnettes Women’s Choir in Rigby. She also was an excellent seamstress, enjoyed candy making, dance club, and painting. She also loved attending Education Week, and took classes at Ricks College for two semesters. Another great joy of her life was traveling the world with Glen, visiting all 50 states and ten different countries. She said her most favorite trip of all was to Israel. It meant so much to her to be in the Holy Land where Christ lived and taught. She served in numerous ways in the Church, in the Relief Society, Primary and Sunday School. Elsie’s love for the Savior and His church permeated her life and everything she did. She treasured her mission with Glen, when they were able to serve in Mattoon and Nauvoo, Illinois, along with her opportunity to serve in the Idaho Falls Temple for over 20 years. Ultimately though, she felt her greatest achievement was raising her seven children.
Elsie has now reunited with her husband, Glen, her parents, Anna and Alex, and siblings Norman, Glenda, Verna and Janet. She is survived by a sister, Opal Watkins, Preston, Idaho, and a brother, Reed Swann, Mink Creek, Idaho, and by all seven children: Marie (Ronald) Miller, Chubbuck, Idaho; Steven Briscoe, Payson, Utah; Rozan (Jerry) Miller, Sugar City, Idaho; Jamie (Craig) Olsen, Provo, Utah; Karen (Drew) Miller, Rigby, Idaho; Gordon (Stacey) Briscoe, North Logan, Utah; and LeeAnn (Lonnie) Reeder, Chubbuck, Idaho. She is also survived by 41 grandchildren, 82 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.
Services will be held Saturday, March 23 at the Preston, Idaho 4th Ward building at 310 North State Street, with Bishop Ean Kunze officiating.
The family will receive friends Saturday morning at 9:30, with the funeral service set for 10:30 a.m. A family meal will be provided by the 4th Ward Relief Society following the service, with a graveside service and interment that afternoon at the Rigby Pioneer Cemetery.
The family expresses love and gratitude to the staff at Heritage Senior Living in Preston, as well as to those hospice workers who served Elsie at the end. Appreciation is also expressed to the Rigby 4th Ward for its service to the family.
Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at webbmortuary.com.