Vada Burden

Vada Drucy Morgan Burden, 100, of Ammon, peacefully passed away April 14, 2025, at her home. She was under the constant care of her daughter, Karen Cook, and Aspen Home Health & Hospice.

Vada was born March 23, 1925, in Twin Falls, Idaho, to Alvin Elmer Morgan and Sarah Anna Barnhart Morgan. Her early years were spent in Rockland, Idaho, which is south of American Falls, Idaho. The family moved to Osgood, Idaho, where she went to school from 4th grade to 8th grade. She was a drum major, played volleyball, and graduated from Ammon High School in 1943.

She met her husband, Ray Miles Burden, while attending high school in Ammon. They were married on November 5, 1942. Their marriage was solemnized in the Idaho Falls Temple on February 13, 1965. Vada traveled to be with Ray while he served his time in the Army in Austin, Texas, and in Oklahoma. Ray was released from the service in September of 1944, to Idaho Falls, Idaho. Their first daughter, Mickey, and second daughter, Lana, were born in Idaho Falls. They moved to the Columbia Basin in 1948, in Washington State, which began a life of pioneering farms. First in Moses Lake, Washington, and then to Pasco, Washington. While in Pasco, their third daughter, Karen, was born in 1950. They soon moved to Ephrata, and nearby in Soap Lake, their daughter, Lori, was born. From there, they relocated to Othello, Washington, where their only son, Miles, was born in 1959. They lived in Othello until 1973 when they moved to Pasco, and Vada and Ray got involved in real estate. Vada became a licensed realtor and Ray became a broker. They enjoyed being able to travel together and were able to visit over 50 countries! They were even present to see the Berlin Wall fall with their own eyes. Upon retirement, they moved to Idaho Falls in 2003.

Vada was a stalwart member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and faithfully held many callings in her life. She also belonged to the Daughter of the Utah Pioneers and spent many years focused on family history. She leaves behind a legacy of a lifetime of family history work. She enjoyed traveling, scrap booking, serving others, and spending time with family. She was very selfless with her time and energy and helped take care of many of her children and grandchildren when they struggled with major health difficulties in her lifetime.

Vada is survived by her daughter, Lana Walker of Pasco, WA; daughter, Karen Cook of Ammon, ID; daughter, Lori (Bill) Snyder of Morgantown, PA; and son, Miles (Sabine) Burden of Leesburg, VA; 28 grandchildren, 73 great-grandchildren, and 21 great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Alvin and Sarah Morgan; husband, Ray Burden; daughter, Mickey Holmgren; sons-in-law, Wylie Cook and Jon Holmgren; daughter-in-law, Tracy Burden; granddaughter, Kara Stewart; grandson, Tennyson Wojnas; granddaughter, Kim Cook; great-granddaughter, Heather Cook; and great-great-grandson, Bentley Cook.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at the Idaho Falls Stonehaven Ward, 2055 Coronado. The family will visit with friends from 10-10:45 a.m. prior to services at the church. Burial will be in the Ammon Cemetery.